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Session 43

Page history last edited by Michael Grasso 11 years, 3 months ago

Scene 1: Blood on the Walls

 

Lorant at the Powder Tower library doing research for his Slayerhood with the respect to the Salamander. 5 successes against the meme that the Salamander released. Mind magic and specifically vampire mind magic. Was the Salamander implanted with these ideas by the Ordo? Was it triggered by Maier's presence? Lorant smells human blood. Lorant activates Obfuscate. He also heightens smell and hearing. Couple of pints of blood. Human, fairly fresh. It is very quiet; he can hear a couple of guards a few hundred yards away. The blood is not spilled; it is smeared on the walls, in Latin: THE MAGI ARE THE MEN WHO WILL NOT BE BLAMED FOR ANYTHING. (0 -16) 

 

Scene 2: Race 

 

Salih was heading out the door of the captain's chambers onto the deck and then onto the pier and to the House of Strangers. Ernst blocks Salih physically. "If you do not stop, I will have the sea spirit do it for me. If we are going to get executed anyway, I would do it keeping the esecrets of our cabal intact." "Makvosky is not our secret." "I'd rather not have to explain it to them." San: "I don't understand why telling them will mean execution." E: "We came here under false pretenses. If this was Rudolf's court, would you stand for this? San: "You have to stop saying you came here. If they didn't want you here you would've never seen it. They brought you here." They think were here for different resons. M: "If that's the case, what do they want with us then? And moreover what do they want from Makovsky?" S: "Makovsky got around their defenses." M and E ask why they don't trust judgment on this. S/S: Not all the time. San: Withholding information is dangerous. Salih: I would not have survived in Prague if i was anything but absolutely honest. M: And I would've died in France if i'd been completely honest. E: This society is not like ours. You're trying to judge them by our customs, when they don't even know that your religion exists. S: Irrelevant. E: Incredibly relevant. San: You're the one who just said what would we do if they came to us. E: I am because there is a certain aspect of humanity when it comes to protecting one's country. M: What about the fact they dont believe their doctors deserve the source if knowledge? We're going to be assaulting their paradigm if we bring this to them. E: There is no reason for us to risk ourselves at this  moment. San: What do you plan to do then. You dont know where he is. Maybe they do. E: They might. But does that mean we need to put ourselves in danger or do we do it to ourselves without digging a hole for ourselves. S: There will be a point where we cant find out. E: Do you believe we're there yet? S: We're close. Ernst says we've already lied by omission. We've already crossed that bridge. S: No. I am going to tell them. E: Then you are not leaving this ship.

 

Back to initiative. Salih has been repositioning himself during the conversation but is also ready for teleport to House of Strangers. He cannot subterfuge his way around Ernst, so Salih disappears. No paradox. 

 

Ernst is speechless. M: It is true what he said. He does not understand secrets at all. That puts him at greater risk here. E: Keep our distance, that should keep us safe. M: No. Because he'll say, "My friends didnt want to tell you but I felt it was necessary." San: we should go to be with him as cabalmates. They surmise he is probably at the House. M: Santiago if you want to go, that's your business. Ernst, we should go back to our hosts. M: While I do not trust this place there is much to learn here. E: For us to disappear would be worse. 

 

Salih:  there is a light on in the master's office. He answers. S: "My apologies for this late arrival." M: How did you get in?" S: I'm sorry I should've rung the bell." Master seems to accept he used magic. "Is evertything all right?" S: "Recent news has come to us. We have learned that another member of our Consilium has arrived on the island." "Independently of you?" "Yes, and there are some concerns which I'd like to discuss with someone in security." "We have no soldiery or constables." "This individual is... I am speaking about a rogue Mage outside the realm of our society, and this person has arrived not following your protocols." The Master seems angry, his emotions are being triggered for the first time. "How could he have gotten past the veil?" "I do not know. That is why this is a concern?" "How did you find out he was here?" "One of our number has been communicating with him regularly. After not being able to, he was suddenly able to." "Is this individual in league with the rogue mage?" "No, he informed us immediately." Santiago is now at the front door of the House of Strangers. He rings. "Excuse me, I should get the door." (16 - 37) 

 

Scene 3: Inscription

 

Lorant goes to grab Brux. "Come with me. I need to show you something." "What in the hell is this?" He goes to the well to wash it off. "Let's do some more research before you destroy the evidence. I only have been able to glean it is human blood." Brux realizes he was acting irrationally. Lorant touches the blood and activates Spirit's Touch. He touches the M in MAGI. Lorant feels like he is tumbling away. Flashes of images: men on the rack, men having their fingers burned off with acid, men being assaulted with hot pokers, all happening in the gaol chamber the night they were arrested. At the end of the vision, a beatific vision of the beaming face of Emperor Rudolf, smiling in approval. This powerful vision would and should be literal. So this was triggered by a spiritual presence. "I think it is the torture demon that is loose on the city." "What is it trying to do by putting this inscription on the wall?" "I would assume he is trying to embarrass us?" "I am not well-versed in spirits, but it would seem to me that a spirit like that would not be cunning and subtle. That gives me pause." Lorant tells Brux: "If we wish to notify the Consilium, you may destroy it. It has been free to roam the city for far too long. It is time for me to fulfill my role as Slayer." (37 - 46)

 

Scene 4: Guests

 

Ernst and Matthieu return to the homes to which they have been assigned. They figure he is in the House of Salomon. Before they split off, Matthieu says to Ernst, "This obviously bears looking into. If I know anything about Guardians of the Veil, that is where he is headed." Ernst asks if we have a map. Santiago has them. Both of them walk by one of the bigger buildings, two men, walking towards it, they are carrying one end of a very large porcelain jar, and it's nearly full with liquid. They're not using magic to move it or make it easier to move. They walk up to the door, knock, and enter. The symbol on top of this building is a pictogram of Adam and Eve. It was very dark inside, none of the gem lights are lit. No windows. "Before we decide if we're going to look into this, we should act around them as we do Sleepers." Ernst agrees. M: "They could be using mechanical means to listen." Ernst wonders if they know they're even special, or exceptional. Do they know they can use it without technology? Yes, they choose not to. Ernst says he will turn in for the night, and he is going to talk to Matthieu the next morning. Matthieu ponders his next move. 

 

Back to the House of Strangers. Santiago enters with the Master. "This man came on your boat." "He was part of my crew. He came with me." "Did he follow Santiago's ship?" Salih confirms. The message was recent, Santiago says. "He may have started out with the wrong intentions, but he is a loyal member of my crew." Salih: "I do not believe he was wrong intentions, he was only following orders." Master: "A dupe. This will have to be reported to the House of Salomon." Salih: "I understand." Master: "I will do so immediately. Excuse me, I must go into my office." He goes to reach for his "phone." Santiago eavesdrops and records with Forces. Salih wants to prepare himself to read his emotional state. "The House of Salomon has been notified. One of the masters of the House will be here in Bensalem tomorrow, and he will want to interview you. I would recommend that the two of you return to your billets. We will contact you when he arrives." Salih sees he is telling the truth, he's being cagey, and that he's afraid of the House of Salomon. (46 - 58)

 

Scene 5: Hunter, Slayer

 

Lorant leaves Brux with the blood. He goes to the castle to get Maier. He had just drifted off to sleep. "I apologize for keeping odd hours. There is a demon on the loose. Since my cabal is otherwise indisposed, I would want your help." Maier says, "Tell me specifically what you mean." "It is a spirit of torture." Maier is familiar with conceptual spirits. "It was birthed in the dungeons." "Are the horrors of the castle such?" "Herr Maier, do not be naive, you know how monarchs are." Maier wasn't looking for that, just knowledge of how it came about. Lorant does not know. "How long has it been abroad?" A couple of weeks. "Has it caused any problems?" "It has put a message in blood." "Child's play." Message is given. Maier says a torture spirit should not be this subtle or dealing with Mages. "How are you certain it was them?" "I performed my version of sorceries upon it, and this is what I saw." "So who, then, is its master?" "That I do not know. Must it have one?" "For it to execute subtlety, I would assume it is under someone else's reins." "Would you like to see the inscription?" (58 - 65)

 

Scene 6: The Houses of Adam and Eve and Salomon.

 

Ernst goes to sleep. He ponders if there are any social gathering places. Matthieu puts up Death sight. The building has a magical effect on it. He pretends to sketch as he uses Resonance analysis. It's a Space effect. Probably a Ward. It's permanent, and that takes a lot of energy and a lot of power to do. Matthieu analyzes the Death resonance. There is a faint residue of Death on the spill on the ground. Matthieu uses Discern Composition. Primarily, the compound is salt water, traces of fats, sugars, and trace of urea. And Matthieu has a realization. He needs to know more, so he plans to step into Twilight.

 

Salih tells Santiago to let them know it's been done. Salih returns to the Tirsan's home. The Feast of the Family is finishing. (65 - 76)

 

Scene 7: Further Analysis 

 

Brux admits Lorant and Dr. Maier to the area. He wants to use analysis of the handwriting and some Mind magic. The mind was disordered; different people have written different letters. "The agonies of many prisoners," Lorant says. Lorant then decides to taste the blood. It is actual blood, but it didn't come from a lifve warm body, even though it was warm. And it comes from three or four different people. Maier decides to use Life magic to see how recently the blood came forth. It feels like the blood was summoned, from different places and times and from the people who were tortured. (76 - 84)

 

Scene 8: Next Morning

 

Ernst calls Matthieu. Salih spends more time in the Tirsan's home. He wants to know the family structure and understand about how the family lives. All the children are grown; no kids' books and no kids in the house. He discovers they have a fairly rigid caste system; jobs are set for them at a very early age. Salih makes a point of praying in the public garden. At breakfast the tirsan asks what he was doing. "I was praying." "What language was that?" "It is Arabic, from my homeland." "I've never heard of it." "It's spoken by a large portion of the world." "We've not heard of it." "What is the most recent news you've heard?" They don't know about Protestantism. "The teachings of Mohammed have turned us away from the core of Christianity."

 

Santiago: preparing the ship for departure, and getting his men ready to leave at a moment's notice. He wants some of his men to come back and get the ship ready.

 

Ernst and Matthieu: Matthieu asks him to check out Twilight. Ernst sees spirits, but they are remarkably tame. Even city spirits usually are inscrutable and alien, but here... they are orderly. They have been made into behaving; domesticated. How old are the spirits? The ones of the city are as old as the city. Matthieu then Grants the Grim Sight. "There are no ghosts." (84 - 97)

 

Scene 9: Trail

 

(Lorant also remembers from the vision that Matthieu gave diseases to the prisoners.) "I wonder what the triggering event for this was." The trail of the spirit into the Kunstkammer and through it and into the Emperor's chambers. Lorant says we need to make this happen in the next 90 minutes. "This is bad." The guard says, "A bit early?" "The Emperor's going to have a very busy day, so we thought we'd get a start to it." Maier uses Mind magic to nudge the guard into not minding. One of the valets is woken to wake the Emperor. The torture demon is sitting right next to the Emperor's bed. (97 - 104) 

 

Scene 10: Destiny

 

Salih has just eloquently explained Islam to the tirsan and family. "It is amazing that we have not heard of this religion." "But you are focused in science." "But your people are esteemed in science, are they not? I would like to hear more of this. Do you have your holy book?" "No, I do not travel with it." "Well, what can you tell me of it?" Salih feels the urge to set up a Fate Sight, the urge comes with his explanation of Islam and Mohammed. Salih is the one destined to bring Islam to this island.

 

Santiago. He wants his men to be relatively sly when it comes to getting the ship ready to go. He uses a Prime effect to act as a cloaking illusion. As he finishes, he hears a minor commotion from the city. A strange self-propelled chariot coming down the road from the interior of the island; no visible form of motion. The carriage has a large cabin at the back; a couple of guards on the front, and a crest of the House of Salomon on the front. The crowds who have come out to greet the Masters of the House of Salomon, tossing flowers at it and celebrating its arrival.

 

Ernst sees no ghosts. "I don't feel safe to discuss much of this in the street. As disturbing as this is, I find it license to explore more fully." They also hear cheers and huzzahs in the distance, towards the docks. "Now is our chance to explore more fully." Ernst says. The two men walk out of the house as well as a man who is marked as a member of the House of Salomon. Life Sight, Ernst, because he wants to find the age of the men. The House of Salomon in their 40s, the other men in their 20s. They walk off towards the celebration. He cannot see through the Ward. Ernst says, "Do you really want to leave you alone, with this." M: "Yes. Why don't you find out what's happening?" E: "I will be back as soon as possible." Matthieu goes to Twilight shift. The buildings have no ancestors. All the buildings are originals to the city.

 

Salih. This tells him he is on the right path; all it takes is one person. The tirsan invites him into the library to talk more; Salih hears the commotion out in the square. Salih does not bite; this is a deeper calling to him. As he talks more and more to the tirsan, he finds himself tied more closely to his fate to the Square of the Temples.  

 

Santiago: tells the men to get belowdecks and help themselves to an extra ration of rum. It parks right at the docks, right by the ships. Ernst sees the chariot and the crowd gathered around the ship. The two pages at the front of the car to open the door to the cabin. One of the masters of the House of Salomon: a black robe, wide sleeves, like a university don. Simple but well-made leather belt, two gloves made of stone, gauntlets of thin stone plates. Flat turban, brown, with the symbol of the House, a golden sun. 40s. Close-cropped brown hair and beard. Cedar wood, gilt with gold, and crystal, sapphires in front and emeralds in back. "I am told that there is an esteemed stranger from outside Bensalem, whom we will to speak to!" Santiago gets Svador to come up. "I think you should give him your version of what happened." Svador agrees; Santiago activates First Impressions. "It's a pleasure to meet you. This is my crewmate Svador. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" No personal name. "I have been summoned here by the Master of the House of Strangers, telling me you have something to inform me of. Shall we go somewhere more private?" Ernst re-ups the Life effect to discern ages. "I came here with a cabal, if they could be summoned to join us...?" One of the pages go to the phone. Santiago finds it interesting that they tell them to use the phones. Ernst sees no discrepancies. He wonders if this island is out of time, or they do not age, or they are very old.  

 

Matthieu steps into Twilight; he triggers Bedlam Paradox, a Severe Derangement. When he walks into the building, he sees something, but cannot remember due to the Paradox. He is in a fugue state.  

 

Salih is summoned to visit with the Master of the House of Salomon. Ernst goes back to meet with Matthieu. 

 

The Master of the House of Strangers is waiting outside. "Go inside, he's waiting." Svador, Santiago, the two pages, and the Master. "Greetings sir. I am Salih Cavus..." "Oh, you're a Muslim." (104 - 128)

 

Scene 11: Father of Tortures 

 

Lorant pulls the valet aside. "Go down to the kitchens and prepare a breakfast for the Emperor." Initiative. Lorant has Spirit Sight. "Got your message," in Latin to the spirit. "This Empire," he says, "will be so much more orderly, when you and your kind, are banished. The screams that will happen when the witch hunt begins. All I need to deal with you is a little bit of sunlight. I can see Europe aflame lit by the bodies of witches." He goes over and sits onto the Emperor's head, when he does, he activates Celerity to interpose himself between him and the Emperor. The spirit passes right through him, crouching on the Emperor's head. "Where do you get such grand plans, little beast." Maier says. "Good Mage, I get these plans from the future." (128 - 133) 

 

Scene 12: Knowledge 

 

The pages are not shocked by "Muslim." "You are *the* Muslim. Of course. Welcome! Welcome, there is a space reserved for you." "You knew I was coming." "Yes. I didn't know who you'd be or what form you'd take, but yes. That should be our next topic of conversation. Captain, you say there is an intruder in our midst?" "He traveled from Prague I believe. Svador knows more." Salih explains what happened, he was told to report to his superior, etc. "I understand. Where did you see him?" "Deep underground in a cave." "Do you have the... have you been charged with your Consilium with returning him?" "Yes." He uses terms no one here has yet. "You must be admitted to the House of Salomon. Because he has infiltrated. Hidden from all eyes and delving deep into our knowledge of underground matters. If you charged with returning him, you should be the ones to capture him." Santiago's knowledge of Prime: He is hinting that the House of Salomon has drilled so far into the Earth they have tapped into the ancient pre-humanity ley lines. "We should summon your other cabalmates. I do not wish to be in this city any longer than I have to. You understand." "I'm not sure I fully do. Your relationship with your people is... different than we expected, but at the same time, similar to ours with our people." "Every now and again, from the mass of our population, a new Master is selected. The vast majority of these people will never understand the researches we do. But they will profit from the results. And that is their lot in life. They are to enjoy the fruits of our research, but not worry about how it came to pass. I see the two of you, equals, here to bring home a fugitive, will be allowed into the house of Salomon. After a brief examination, of course." "Thank you," Salih says, "I appreciate your equanimity."  

 

Matthieu wanders the streets, glassy-eyed and mouth agape. "Are you all right?" "No." Mind effect; he is suffering from a very serious Derangement and memory loss. "I know... Ernst, I know it's bad, but i can't remember it myself." Matthieu does not want Ernst to tamper with his mind with Life. Walking down the street one of Ernst's hosts. "One of the Masters of the House of Salomon wishes to meet with you." "What could they possibly want with us?" "To take you into the House? It is a rare honor." Ernst says we should make haste. 

 

"The examination is to make sure you are of sound mind and body." Santiago wants to know where he is headed as much as possible. Ernst and Matthieu arrive. E: "We were told of your summons." Master: "Please, have a seat." "To fill you in, you have been invited to enter the House. To find your missing compatriot, the one who followed you here without your knowledge." E: "So you are aware of the situation we are in. I would like to extend my apologies for not being up front with those we met." "Please. It is of no concern to me. I wish you to take care of this business, which is why you are being given provisional, given the results of your examination, entry. We believe your associate is hiding in one of our many vaults underneath the House. You will be given free movement within the House." Santiago: "Again, I wish to know what these involved." Master: "The House exists on this island, but it is very well hidden so that none of the people would be able to find it without our guidance. It is cloaked by Prime, Life and Space magic, deep in the interior." "To prove that you are sound of mind and body. One of our doctors will be coming." E: "May we have a moment." Master: "In privacy? Yes of course." Ward? Salih acquiesces. E: "There is no way Matthieu will pass these tests." M: "That is not even the worst part of this. This place is deeply sick." S: "Physically, spiritually? Mentally?" E: "Definitely mentally." S: "They have their issues, yes." M: "You're talking about going to the place that holds the secrets here." S: "I would have thought you would like it." San: "Your interests are not necessarily our own." M: "Santiago. There are no ghosts here. This place is wrong." E: "The spirits are surprisingly docile as well." M: "And they want to give us a medical examination and take us to that place." In a hushed voice. S: "Yes." M: "If we go to this place we will be under their control." S: "We cannot leave, easily." E: "We can." San: "You can leave without seeing this, I cannot." E: "I am increasingly becoming convinced that Makovsky is better off here. That if he is in these vaults, he is of interest to us any longer. If he is to somehow get extra power and then get out, it'll be too late anyway. We need to go, we need to be done." San: "Then go." M: "I haven't even told you, something. We saw some men, and they were carrying a massive jar. Some of the contents splashed out. And it was amniotic fluid. The waters of a woman. There are no ghosts here. The man you are staying with has FORTY children. They carry jars of massive amounts..." San: "I can't believe you're running away." Argument. E: "It is not so much things we've never seen before as things not meant to be seen." San: "We are meant to observe this world." Mysterium. E: "perhaps Makovsky is not seen because he is not recognizable." San: "From what he said there is a difference between being invited and uninvited. What did you see?" M: "We should have sense on what could be seen." San: "There is a difference between caution and paranoia. I'm done listening to you two." M: "You're absurd." San: "Run home to your little toy city." M: "A real city where there is civilization." More argument. Ernst says he is not going to the House of Salomon. "I am going to go back and get out of here. I would rather die than go to the House of Salomon." San: "Thank you. I needed your permission." Santiago walks out. Ernst: "Salih, are you coming with us." S: "No. I am meant to be here." M: "Salih! Tell me what that means, that you're meant to be here." E: "He's the only person of his kind here. He believes he's a savior." M: "Or are they going to collect you." Ernst laughs in recognition. "You need to leave! You need to come with us. This is no longer a request, as a close friend and confidant, please, I beg of you. I have made bad decisions, I understand I have a reputation with you. You must come with us." Salih, silent. M: "Salih, I saw one of the buildings that shook me so much I cannot recall it. There are no ghosts, the spirits are wrong. You understand how things are interrelated." Salih could use Time. (133 - 157)

 

Scene 13: The Future

 

Torture: "I have seen the future. That piqued your interest, the two of you." Maier: "And who showed to you?" "I don't need to see it, I know I will become more powerful the next one or two generations. So much fuel, so much pain. Men, women and children, all in pain." Maier analyzes the spirit's strength. It is a concept that is probably average to moderately strong. "He'll die of course, in his own time. Once he goes, the floodgates open." L: "This is why we protect him." T: "But you can't keep him alive forever. Natural causes will take him sooner or later, and the melancholic do not last very long. His dream is coming to an end, and mine is about to begin." With that, he makes for the window. Lorant plans to go to spirit form. He does, and tries to strike at him with swords before he makes the window. With the time they've engaged him in conversation, he can be a Slayer (+3). Maier sees his spirit form. Lorant slashes it with both of his swords. To the mortal eye, the fabric of reality opens and gallons of blood materializes and begins to scream. (157 - 164) 

 

Scene 14: Decision 

 

San: "I want to go." The master is shocked that some do not wish to go. "Have a seat and we will wait for the doctor. They don't wish to go??" Salih: "I will view what happens, and then I ask you be respectful of my decision." The Ward proves difficult. A glimpse. E: "Will you be coming with us?" S: "No, but I will be going in more... cautiously than I would have." M: "Tell me." E: "He cannot tell me and I cannot see what he saw. I wish to see. Let me leave with a clear conscience." M: "Can you show me?" S: "It may be worse. Part of your mind might not be ready for it." Salih sketches a large vaulted warehouse, with many many circular pools in the floor, and they are growing people, as if in wombs. And none of the bodies have souls. E: "This is why there are no ghosts." S: "I need to see more." E: "I will share with you my thoughts. Our cabal shares many bonds. If you die here, you may be compromising your safety and ours. Unless you know how this works..." S: "No." E: "This is unnatural and wrong." S: "I am meant to be here." E: "You are neither savior nor prophet." S: "I still have a purpose and I wish to see it through." E: "They are trapping you, you are being termed special." S: "I don't think you understand me as well as you think I do." E: "Perhaps not." S: "This is a side to the main mission." E: "Please come with us. Matthieu, let us go now." (164 - 175)

 

 

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