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Post by Xenomarch on Feb 27, 2006 5:44:04 GMT -5
Personal Info: Name :Fred.... most people find the Ferdilance too much an it gets rapidly shortened – Street Name : Freddy, Fred Race : h Sex : m Age : 36
STATS Body : 3 Quickness :5 Strength : 2 Charisma : 4 Intelligence : 6 Willpower : 5 (8 w/Sustained Spell Active) Essence : 4 Magic 4 (6 w/ Geas 1-Geas – must make snakey gestures, 2-Geas - Talisman- effigy of Snake - silver hue - that can see the world (Silver staring snake) a snake ring in plain view) +2 initiate levels = magic 8 Reaction Q+I/2: 5 Initiative: +1D6 (+4d6 w/Sustained Spell Active)
Current Karma:400 from Preventative medicine Total 83 spent = 56 available= =27
Karma 9
POOLS Combat: 8(9 w/Sustained Spell Active) Spell: 5(6 w/Sustained Spell Active) Hacking: (Int+MPCP)/3 = depends on the deck Astral Combat: 7(9 w/Sustained Spell Active) Astral pool 2 Astral reaction +2
SKILLS Sorcery (Spell-casting) 4(7) Conjure 5 Whips 5 Stealth 5 Electronics 5 B/R Electronics 5 Etiquette 2 Unarmed Combat 1 Leadership 1 Negotiate 1 Assault Rifle 1 Acting 1
ActiveSof Pistols (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Bio-Tech (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Athletics (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Computer (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Drive; Wheeled (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Mechanics (5) - Cost 7,500, MP 75 Retrieved from the icy North Mil-Spec programmes accessible at L5 demolitions, electronic warfare, firearms, heavy weapons, launch weapons, close combat, armed combat, electronics, and one with the knowledge to use and operate a BattleTAC system
KNOWLEDGE SKILLS Administration procedures 4 Electronic components 4 Security Systems 6 History of Magic 4 Magical Theory 4 ( I see this did get converted to magical theory.) Gambling 4 Evaluate Gemstones 4 Seattle Area Kn 4
Know-Softs Electronics Theory (4) - Cost 7200 mp48 Physical Sciences (4) - Cost 7200 mp48 Chip cost 60,000
LANGUAGES English 6 Chinese 3
EDGES Good rep 2 Lucky 2 Astral Chameleon 2
FLAWS Day Job 2 Snake Oil shop Dependents 2 Parents & Family Extra Enemies 2
WEAPONS #1 Name : Defiance Taser Range : -5 -10 -12 Conceal : holster Ammo : 4 Mode : Mag Damage : Body vs 10 Bonuses +1 smart-link to smart-shades mono-filament whip 3000
Additional Items: Body armor - puiffa coat flashpaks UV binox goggles UV IR ultrasound emitter/detector 8 spectrum detect (analysis light waves all spectrum) smart-shades + lowlight and flare comp briefcase with armored sides 8/6 (to hide behind) plus electronics tools 1500 lock-picks in dermal pouch 4x Sustaining Foci F1 F1 F1 F3 90000 blank data-chips x10 ~100,000 equipment SIN: 45917557 Voice activate Secure and Encrypted com device (Z Street) Secure Biometrics entrance card to the Z Street facility.
CYBERWARE/BIOWARE
Data-jack .2 1000 Knowsoft link .1 1000 memory .4 120 MPs 18000cr skill-wire 5 R5 MPmax 75 - Cost 1.0 Essence, ¥187,500 Blended Fingertip compartment for mono-whip Oh and a small dermal pouch for stashing small light items 1 Kilo. .2essence
2 essence ~210,000 in 'ware
CONTACTS Ferdilance has pals in a few shops - he has helped them out over the years
Lvl 2 - The radio shack – electronics emporium a good place to trade spares: Bill who fences the goods
Lvl 2 - Chips-up-u (thesign writerer wablitzedzed but the name stuck) – a cybparloror that installs most small items (up to 1 essence) and the doc is awakened sympathetic: Doc – a pal
Lvl 2 - Meg his wife and sometimes the kids, another Snake follower. She likes the artisan side jeweleryy designs from pure metals, she will help out in a professional capacity
Lvl 2 - Working with the people in Camden Lock they look after each other – Water-boys Gang
Lvl 1 - Gotalottabotal - Corp Magic contact in Aztechnology - bring me his vitals, erm personnel dossier. .
Lvl 1 - Miss Daisy - used to be a young up and coming socialite - now an older been there need to maintain my position socialite, knows who's who and who is rumored to have done what in Seattle. .
Lvl 1 - Drell the Laywer dealing in insurance investigations - often requiring specialists to track down items. .
Lvll 1 - Sammy street troll fixer
Lev 1 contact British Special Ops in Seattle
L1 Mr Smythe Ace tomato
L1 Four-Eyes Fixer
~45,000 in contacts
LIFESTYLE
Med 5000/month plus pamper hampers when they are feeling flush (=High for a month) Lifestyle Upgrade: additional 1,000 NY per week = $52,000 NuYen /year. SIN: 45917557 Held in First Tribal Bank
NUYEN(¥) 45,000 75,000 (Previous gaming EXP)
Current Amount in First Tribal: 35,000 NuYen
has 4 kilos in gold nuggets awaiting refining...7 000cr worth - now used by Meg
HISTORY In the 40’s the Frederick family arrived in Seattle sank all of their money into dependable bricks and mortar… which had been plummeting, so snapped up a pier and onshore lots for a song. Ferdys dad called it Camden Lock hoping that it would grow like its namesake. Over the years independents have bought into the area, while not exactly booming, you can buy pretty much what you want from one of the many small traders. Old Mr Frederick collects the rent, nurturing his ‘allotment’ and the Missus enjoys running up shirts and curtains for all sizes of folk.
Ferdy has helped others in the area, something which has helped out in his career –‘spread it around if you’ve got it’. Living and working out of the Lock has earned him a few good reliables – he can call on assistance from the tight community, just as much as they can rely on his help.
The radio shack – electronics emporium a good place to trade spares Chips-up-u (the signwriter was blitzd but the name stuck) – a cyber parlour that installs most small items and the doc is awakened sympathetic
Snake-Oil Shop – Ferdy runs this Aladin’s cave along with Meg his wife, another Snake follower. She likes the artisan side – jewellery designs from pure metals. Maybe if theres a payout in gold she can look at making very special items. A months rent in advance 5000 In the underground garage, they have dug out the concrete down to real earth and have a spirit lodge (10) 5000 this has been upped to the equivalent of an electronic surveillance listening post Now Glacier lives there as the place got trashed Meg has done up her own alchemy shop and Freddy has been out on jobs and taking the kids off.
History Update: 5 July 2007, (Preventive Medicine) Pelch Gobwit
Freddy has taken some freelance work with Dom Haseltorn as a combat mage. Second in command of a group of Shadow Runners working out of the Ace Tomato Company on Z street in Seattle, he has recently had to put some distance between is family business and contacts because of a series of attacks. Due to this problem Freddy has distance himself from the group and taken additional work elsewhere hoping the situation will cool down.
SPELLS Stunball Force 5 Exclusive cost(-1dam level (+1)) Shapechange Force 5 (+1 (M)) Tri-D Phantasm Force 5 Exclusive cost (+1 (D)) Heal Force 3 Exclusive cost (dam level) Increase Will +3 Force 3 cost 3 (2S) Magic Fingers Force 3 Exclusive cost (+2 (M)) Mind Probe Force 5 Exclusive cost 3 (2S) Fix Force 3 Exclusive cost (S) Physical Mask Force 5 (+1 (M)) Resist Pain 3 cost 1 (-2M) Increase Reflexes +3 Force 1 (3D) X-range Clairvoyance to 200m Force 3 Exclusive cost 1(S) Levitate 5 detect magic F12
ALLY SPIRIT "Snig" Force: 4 Body: 4 Quickness: 4 Strength: 4 Charisma: 4 Intelligence: 6 Willpower: 5
Physical Form: "Snake Tail Medusa" looks silvery as if constructed from wiring and circuitry about 3 meters length. Skills: B/R Electronics 5, Sorcery 6 Spell Pool: 2 Spell: Fix F3 Exclusive detect magic F 6
Recommended Player Goals to be looked at for oncoming scenarios: The creation of a Shamanic Lodge at Z Streetfor the working of DEEP magic and magical investigation without compromising your friends and contacts. Now back in the Snake-Oil shop Setting up of fall back points and safe houses in time of need. Review of Spells and their adequacy.
He has been eating well recently and has been through thorough med checks - body up to 3 upped ettiquette and leader and spellcasting recently upgraded the Snake-oil shop - Yellowbird / Snake lodge to 10 / the place has it's finger on the pulse of Seattle stuffed full of electronics to monitor trid news pirate matrix radio and a bundle of other local frequencies soaking up Seattle information the equivalent of a 'Shop'
Become initiate taken the 'reveal parasite' oath - aiding Illiya and the Fortean Times Mask - he keeps his aura mundane to viewers Snake camoflauge Sensing mana (Regio) Snake sense Increased Initiate status to #2
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Post by wolflet59 on Nov 7, 2008 8:17:56 GMT -5
Freddy spent a good while under the thumb of z-street. With no access to his lodge (constructed with Meg in the new alchemy site) it was difficult to progress with standard magic learning. Whether method or madness (though Freddy thinks it was all part of her plan..) Control caused Freddy to branch out in a different direction.
Without access to those familiar resources and traditional paths which most mages and shamen travel down - that of learning standard cantrips - Freddy was forced to work through Snake directly. This was a new concept for him - outside of the comfortable acknowledged progression routes.
He still needs a lodge - a 'holy place' which will provide him with personal access through dance meditation and tequila binges. These traditional preparation methods will still be viable - but Meg and the whole entourage will be returning to the main site and will not appreciate his ceremonies while they try to get on with their own work
He remains in the main site learning all he can from his spirit guide who was rescued from the metaplanes delving into these new paths - a new journey.
Where to build his lodge - how to progress with this new learning.. and how to get closer to Snake.
Freddy already has a good understanding of the metaplanes - needing to cement his learning by providing a link to Snake - most would call this becoming a true follower or becoming initiate. He needs to forge the link using the standard currency of power - karma.
Once he has cemented his dedication to Snake more mysteries can be explored. The ceremonies will need a guide a lodge and a lot of power to forge those bonds
His next task is to find a good place to set up the lodge - Snake is most potent when connected to the earth - real rock and dirt not the soulless crete constructions. The lodge will be costly but straightforward and the ceremonies explained by his guide.. so where to set up shop.. what does he want from it ?
Freddy likes the urban environment rather than building a lodge out in the sticks he wants one in Seattle city. It must have access to real bedrock like his original Snake-Oil shop where they drilled into the crete in the basement garage to expose real mother earth. Snakes like living in dark holes underground - if it is good for Snake then it is good for Freddy.
A good deal of the city extends up into the air with quite a lot of underground excavation to create parking lots - but precious little mother earth is left exposed usually a crete floor or walls are introduced in order to provide adequate foundations drainage access etc.
What else is he after? security. Mages of old would sit atop towers in the wilderness - mainly because they were miserable sods but it also stopped treasure hunters from rifling through their drawers (missus)
Freddy wants to go earthwards instead - so some kind of cave system would be ideal - the underground transport - already taken.. buy his own plot and dig.. well if there is a million yen going spare then why not? however.. So it looks like having some kind of place which does have access to real rock..
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Post by Braddoc on Nov 7, 2008 14:13:49 GMT -5
((F-E got prime location outside of Seattle! No Elves garanteed!))
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Post by wolflet59 on Nov 14, 2008 22:29:54 GMT -5
Freddy had been very disillusioned by his attempts to involve himself in an active group.. the first had been ambushed and outmanouvered by the Ripper conjourers which had then involved his wife being kidnapped...let alone the negative vibes he had taken from the rest of the group- the involvement with Dom had been of great media speculation - but had come to a feeble payoff and release as KD&A shuffled into the background. - followed by being incarcerated by one of KD&A's henchmen in the Siren - where Freddy had learnt a GREAT DEAL... let alone the intel which he had stored in his own cranial deposits and has not yet released...
the recent double-cross he experienced from the Mao and Pelch had sealed it - people either hated his guts or hated being around him ..
Whatever it was that ostracissed Freddy, he still had a huge amount of friends and aquaintences he could call upon for support - Freddy stayed in contact - provided them with leads and help. He had ssupported them and visa-versa for years...
Involving himsself with the darker side for over two years had resulted in cold cash and created more enemies than he could have imagined.
Sssod that - there was no way back into the shadows - but there was little way that he could possibly trusst most of his earlier 'aquaintencess' Freddy had to become public or go it alone
Alone you died quickly.
His expertise was in burgulary - personal infiltration - a security expert. He and every security expert knew that every ssecure system was penetrable - it involved the things whhich were intended to be locked out and the thhings which were intended to be kept ssecure. Most of these systems also involved daily routines of human operators which tended to allow a window of opportunity..
Security systems - Freddy thought about relying on what he was good at - magic- electronics security theory - fuckitt.. Freddy was going to go legit. Punch holes in systems and he would rake in the cost of plugging the gaps..
He was already a public figure - SIN - an awful lot of connections, far more than any runner he had ever come across - just hadnt made a name for himself in the legit world
He went back to the Snake-Oil Shop the Chinese-style Pagoda on the seafront
Two weeks later and a bundle of different vans carrying old and odd city electricals had delivered the conduits screens cabling and transmitters to be assembled inside the shop.
Freddy used his understanding of security systems and electronics to create something only someone with an innate understanding of electronics and security could get past - otherwise the defense systems would kick in. He had learnt well from BB and seen how others had approached security.
Next was Meg -she already had her own team.. Fredddy couldnt live in that - too many people all of the time.. but Meg would need a break once in a while...
The kids and grandparents - private education now - mostly on the yacht with visits from both parents every so often...
In the meantime - once he had sorted out the big lodge - he invited the spirit Yellow.. Yellowbird .. to reside. This took the direct link of Freddy away from the City Lodge and Meg. It also gave him the opportunity to explore the metaplanes with his new mentor...
Freddy had already connected to Illiya who had been prominent in bringing about the initiate-hood of Meg (Freddy's wife) and had agreed to abide by her restrictions of hunting down parasites on humanity.
Problem was that he had already been catapulted into the meta-regions through the machinacions of one - Headcrack (a well-intune geezer regarding dirty trix - Freddy had kept in touch with the guy as he seemed a pure mercinary - so it depended when his contract ran out with Control..)
Meaning he was already practicing Snake-like manouvers outside of the traditional bounds...
This leads of course to... can anyone do it? have the Corps done it? who else can?
Freddy pondered and fretted over this.. taking account of 1/100 are magicaly inclined and 1/10 could be mages and 1/10 could be independant of a college education and not be snapped up by the corps.. and 1/100 could interract with the metaplanes made him and others who knew Illiya one of very very few indeed. One in a million sounded a tiny amount - but in the greater scheme of things he realised that there were going to be a lot of initiates
he had the connections to make a legit life work - physical electronic and magical infiltration checked. Companies and the rich liked security and would pay top dollar. He could operate as an independent - avoiding those massive run-ins he had encountered before. However he would need help.
Freddy thought about the commercial applications - but concentrated on the immediate integration with Snake and his own family with great care.
Ordinary application of spell or small cantrip was basically universal throughout the magical world - anyone could cast a low-powered bolt to affect the physical, with ease. Higher powered bolts would require a higher knowledge..
This higher knowledge would have to be through: Dedicated personal research - tough personal link to a spirit mentor - tough but all very personal A link to a group which eased the connection requirements actually being a spirit - then imparting the understanding to someone 'right' (tiny amounts)
Freddy is initiating as part of a group - introduced by Meg to Illiya - Freddy is putting a LOT of his hard earned power (karma~) into this..
His aim is to research BIG spells from the library - the 'Citadel' which he has already reached.. Force 10 or 12 spells would be utterly illegal and part of the sectioned grimoire of any state library - these would be protected by .. at the very least the protection would be from the tiers of administration at every step denying existance of sub-routines or sub-cultures or cults within their organisation..
you dont get in without paying - and there will be a continuous cost..... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE MEAL...
Freddy will pay the cost and continue to keep up the payments otherwise the cult will sever the connection.
This is real important for anyone wanting to join a cult and benefit from that... you gain benefits from joining you have to pay your dues... balance.
In the meantime Freddy cements his relationship with Snake and practisess newer posssibilitiess under the ground
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Post by wolflet59 on Feb 9, 2009 14:44:39 GMT -5
assessing the need for a heavy duty spell Freddy contemplates the possibilities - anything very big would have to be a one-shot attack because of the drain which would be physical damage. Trying to control so much power would rip through the astral and ground out in the physical. Casting at full effect could raise the danger even higher to automatic kill on himself.. had to be ranged, so it had to be a stunbolt. The thing was stun only but that wasnt the point - if there was something big to take down then stun was good. He could always take a bite out of it later! Anyway Snake was not the combat kind so stun was appropiate He already had a number of cantrips learnt at a lower cost level - stunbolt could be learnt at a lower drain. It would mean a trip onto the astral and an attempt to gain access to the library where the object of his quest ought to await him - and Snig
The last time he had ventured there he had been lifted into a state where his body no longer resisted the parting of spirit - two bottles of tequila was plenty to reduce his physical hold on the spirit - now he knew he no longer needed such a jolt. He bore in mind the object of his quest before setting out - the realms liked to have an end point otherwise they saw no reason to delay your departure and the spirit could be ejected.
choosing a difficulty of challenging would reduce the cost of the spells to be gained by the difficulty of the challenge- too high it could be deadly but too low the spells at a high force could not be unlocked and learnt. If it was worth it then it required a challenge.
'To access knowledge of a powerful stunbolt' fit the bill - it could have been more correct but the idea and the intent were clear in his mind as he and Snig walked into the astral twilight to confront the keeper.
A silver scalpel slit the air before him causing the very stuff to part like silk and Freddy's heart sank like a stone... the Ripper... he immediatly turned to try to catch sight of a way out - back maybe - or some cover - fear pumped through his veins instead of adrenaline - behind him the shining silver twitched and another chunk of reality was cut out with effortless precision...
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Post by wolflet59 on Feb 17, 2009 11:57:08 GMT -5
You dont really know what you are doing do you Mr Fredericks? We have been watching you make more and more mistakes.. You leave yourself open at every turn - contacts connections family - all of your trails lead to another leverage point. We can come and collect again just like last time and there isnt a thing you can do about it as you have left everything wide open. You regard yourself as a player yet you are out in the open - how do you think others can trust youto keep silent ? You are now a liability..
Gahh - it cut him deep - reinforcing how he could not work in the shadows any longer - but Freddy had already made the choice to go legit to step into the sunlight. This made him a security risk for anyone who did want to stay away from the public glare or hid from retribution. But it also made him available and because of that it made him a useful connection between the shadows and legit operations..
Away spirit - I know that I have already been through all of this and have chosen a path that now suits me.. as for an explaination well - I have seen people dissappear and become compromised because of the secrecy they work under - I have seen people concentrate so damned hard on secrecy that they have little time to put into anything else and lose all trust in the people they work with. Now if people want what I can provide - they get it all upfront and they can see what others have to say. Melt away self-doubt you have no place here..
Freddy and SNig had passed the personal test leaving the spirit to quietly fade into the dull grey background...
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Post by wolflet59 on Mar 16, 2009 13:18:41 GMT -5
They had been documented as having the Harz-Greenbaum blood series and carrying the HMHVV virus which he started to research. Reading deeper into this it meant that there were viable samples available to do the research on.. though it was sketchy as to how many samples had been taken. The medical papers were written over a period of six years with the last one coming out nearly twenty years ago. With a little more looking Freddy found the date of the professor’s death – nearly twenty years ago. Someone had put a stop to the research.
Vampyre and Wendigo were both linked to these blood group and vampiric virus - the virus seemed to thrive in a magic-rich environment hence the paranormal 'powers' attributed to them. Another link that Freddy had followed was the H-G blood series. There was a lot of evidence for this from recent scientific papers regarding ghoul subjects - all having the H-G blood type.
There were suggestions that the goblinisation or 'the change' resulted in this physical change to ghoul which ended up with the different blood type as all part of the same physical change - and others which Freddy was more interested in that demonstrated that where there had been dire cases of blood transfusion with the H-G blood it led to death not ghoulism. there had to be a connection - between death and the blood but there did not seem to be a scientific link - just an awful lot of conjecture
Illiya, do you have access to genetic material from these creatures and if so, can I use it?
She looked shocked – like he was asking to perform heart surgery on her..
What on earth for? That sort of material is so dangerous – you know the viral potential – it hasn’t been studied – it could easily become infectious. Do you have a Clue as to what you are asking..!
I believe that if I have a reasonable sample then through the effect of similarity, access to a sample will make my journey far more purposeful. I am going to include a symbol too – a ‘fetish’ if you wish to call it that. Anything that I can use to ease the difficulty.
Snake is adept at detections – tasting out her intended prize – My idea is to have access to a spell which can be used to trace them down, something to focus the energy through, so I need a sample.
Do you need an example or would you just Like to have one? This isn’t stuff you just play around with Freddy so you have to be sure.
An example will give me something specific to concentrate on – after all it will become the thing I will be searching for. It is still going to be very difficult as I am trying for as wide an area effect as possible.
With the force of spell I am looking at using – everyone around me will recognise me because of the power surging through – so again I need to do something about that as well
You have thought this through Freddy – do you think you will make it back from the Realms if you are searching for something so hard to control – maybe it will control you instead..
It will be very useful in hunting them down. Have you thought about backup, surveillance and strike?
Then do not follow any leads up until we have organised – otherwise out in the real world you will get yourself killed or worse.
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Post by wolflet59 on Mar 16, 2009 14:43:12 GMT -5
Freddy is going after an analyse magic (which includes spells spirits and .. dual nature..) F11
it will generally pick up magic in an area of around 500m most of it will be out of sight and detected on a 6 - unless through soil rock water etc. which blocks magic He will have to concentrate on each target to read it or just gain a quick general impression. This means a good long scour of the detected area taking hours maybe! each success will provide more info - innately resisted by the target against F11 detection-1 sustained +1 caster only (-3) area (+1) x area(+1) resulting in a 5L physical drain A F11 spell cast will evoke Snake - causing everyone within sight to immediatly see the Snakyness - and cause some kind of reaction. not a spell he wants to use in public els there may be a lynch mob after him
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Post by wolflet59 on Mar 23, 2009 11:35:20 GMT -5
It was Snig who noticed the shapes first – just out of sight on the periphery.. The landscape they moved through was white cotton wisps on a grey background .. features consisted of brambles and potholes underfoot – blasted trees, stumps and an occasional swirl in the low fog. Freddy’s parents enjoyed old motion pictures – this reminded him of cheap b-grade film where more was spent on the background music than the cheap set.
They continued to move forwards into the grey. Though after a while both realised that they were making little headway towards… well towards what? The only leads came from these constant shapes.. were they there to distract and lead the two of them off the path or to close in when they grew weary?
With a concerted effort they ran (and slithered) to the left –causing the ones on that side to move away and the others to close in behind them. Snake was not one for violent conflict when a quiet hunt and subdual would suffice.. on their course adjustment Freddy created the illusion of Snig while the familiar went to ground and Freddy and his companion continued to speed off into the near distance.
The short scream followed by a thrashing indicated that the plan had come to fruition. When he arrived Freddy was presented with the sight of Snig wrapped around shreds of a spirit.. A detailed observation revealed little in this environment – it had to be a spirit as the insubstantial body was tattered grey ragging vestigial limbs all based around a gaping hole of a mouth which Snig was keeping well away from getting close.
What is it Snig? Spirit surely.. some kind of vestigial wraith.. it has a want to consume but was unwilling to commit to the chase – and there would seem to be enough of them out there. I am loath to destroy it yet.. so we need to chain it somehow.
He pulled his own belt to fetter the wraithling – binding it tight around its neck then holding the collar from behind. The creature began to fill out taking on shape. The limbs became stronger and the body bulked out with dark sinew and flesh. The head thickened into a low brow around the heavy skull of an attack dog.. a Bargheast – a savage hunter which Knight Errant had semi-tamed and used for security details.. least- that’s what it looked a little like.
Their astral did not seem to be working on this plane so both found it difficult to analyse the aura of the creature which snarled and twisted under Freddy’s grip on the collar. Not willing to let it go they let it pick up its own trail. The dog seemed quite content to move at a steady brisk pace with an occasional twist to check that it was still held..
I didn’t expect this Snig – we have got ourselves a hound – what next I wonder.. No – I don’t believe it!
The thin black spires became more substantial set against the high snow-capped mountains as they drew closer to the castle..
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Post by wolflet59 on Mar 26, 2009 11:46:08 GMT -5
The sound began to grow – they could see the dark outlines of their destination in the shifting mists ahead – from the same direction a low chanting came out to greet them. Looking around for cover in the desolate place was futile – Freddy considered ducking into a fog-filled hole which had nearly broken his leg just before – but the thing seemed just a shallow scoop. That took up precious minutes so they decided to continue..
Black gates stood open – the only gap in the town wall – a wide ditch fronting it off into the distance.. Out of the gate a line of hooded monk types began to slowly shuffle forward.
Freddy and Snig flattened themselves against the side wall of the low bridge – trying to bump past the monks – fraggers seemed oblivious to them and wouldn’t move an inch .. ’Scuse me – excuse me.. hey you yeah you I want to get past.. bump.. push.. slowly they continued to force themselves forward stoppint the two of them from progressing.
They tried the ditch – but once they had hung over the edge and seen the slithering things iunder the slime and mud.. Fly float – change into a bird.. no joy in surmounting the wall and still the procession continued.. so..
WHAMMM.. well that is what Freddy thought the stunball ought to sound like.. a couple of them dropped – to be quickly dragged to their feet – Freddy considered a succession of stuns to drop enough of them so they could enter before they recovered.. realising however that the effort would probably be enough to stun him as well and be ejected from the astral…
He counted the rounds in the tasar 16 in total – and if he really wanted to he could cut his way through – Bah.. he was thinking like a Croc shaman Nothing to do but wait or join them to see where they were going…
’Scuse me.. where are you off to The hood ceased his chanting and answered we go to pray for the souls of the deceased – you would be welcome to join us if you have lost any close to you..
There are none close who have died though I’ve seen many others Then pass with peace stranger....
The monks stepped a little to one side leaving a gap into the town..
Information and secrets that’s the way of Snake – not the aggressive approach.. now what do we have here..?
The guild boards hung outside drab shopfronts – a variety of shapes and paintings advertising their owner’s medieval wares. Open shutters displayed lacklustre items – baskets and chickens – pots and bread.. household articles. Cheapside wares. Freddy looked about for the more expensive looking places.. ahead through the narrow cobbles then in through the arch where the glimmer of glass and steel were matched with the smells of perfume and spices.. just the place to find something useful..
Just where do you think you are going sonny? One burly guard looked closely at Freddy’s rough garb – grinning with the knowledge that their victims were not the sort who should stray from Cheapside just for a free gawk at the well-to-do
Freddy rattled out an appropriate reply.. I am here to deliver an important message – to erm.. the mage
Why didn’t you say so first then.? We shall accompany you there directly – and keep that dog out of sight – the fools down there don’t know any better – but if you have business then you can go through – accompanied.
Easy enough – and a connection could be made in this town – more information – great! But the veiled malice directed towards the dog was disturbing… plenty of time to find out why.. if he needed to.. which he no doubt would
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Post by wolflet59 on Apr 20, 2009 9:24:12 GMT -5
Here you go – the Magus Alexander – I shall wait until you are in his care The burly guard rapped on the heavy door until at last the shutter opened to see what the noise was all about Freddy Snig and their ‘dog’ were introduced by the city officer which led to the door being creakily swung open. The guard waited until they entered and became someone else’s problem
So what is the message? Good Gods you have one! Who are you? Tell me everything! Smoothly Freddy plied his tongue avoiding any reference to origin and destination but concentrated on the outwitting and capture of the beast.. the fact that noone seemed phased by a three metre snake-woman but were shaken by the spirit-dog disturbed him. Using a gap in the tale to request a drink allowed him to assense the proprietor – Awakened with a casting aura..
Tell me Magus Alexander of this creature – it now seems so docile. It was a spirit but has taken on this beast-form – you seem more wary of this than of my companion..
We are all people which is plain to see by all citizens – but the creature is beast – you have custody of the creature and as a result were let through – albe it under escort - to a pillar of society, myself.
I take it that you are a travelling magus – yet you were able to impose your will upon the creature.. tell me how were you able to perform this? I know no formula which will chain the beasts – we can destroy them from afar with bolt and blast… I am most intrigued.. more than intrigued.. You did not destroy the creature so you must have a different power… I would be willing to trade knowledge for knowledge.. what would you desire?
Freddy recalled the mage’s aura – a ‘groggy’ or a spellslinger rather than a full mage which indicated that he would know little about summoning and therefore about spirits in general. Snig must be viewed by him as a a single-natured person – as opposed to the dual spirit in dog form.
There were others too – again indicating that they had to be spellslingers as well, no summoning – which put Freddy in a very good bargaining position..
what can we trade? I have an understanding of these creatures and I have access to spellcasting
Alexander indicated for them to follow upstairs past a workshop to a high window I am certain that if you had the capacity to do this… then you would have done so then released a stream of fire followed by an arcing bolt out into the mists.. both nearly blinded Freddy’s astral sight.. there had been one time when he had encountered such powerful attacks - which he judged were way above his own heavy stun. The effect on Alexander was to be expected but the grin demonstrated that he had impressed Freddy.. Down to business then stranger, let us settle upon an amicable exchange
Snake would approve – digging out secrets – trying to uncover the workings of a highly illegal force of spell back in Seattle would be nearly impossible however his excursion to the planes had allowed him access.
Over ale and sweetcake (a change to coffee and biscuits) they discussed possibilities eventually agreeing on exchanging the knowledge of summoning for the knowledge of high powered detection. Over the weeks that followed Freddy and Alexander worked together interpreting each others explanations until both were satisfied that they had a working knowledge. With exhaustion Freddy fell asleep satisfied that he had learnt enough
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Post by wolflet59 on Apr 20, 2009 9:46:35 GMT -5
he found that his conjouring skill had become rusty or kinda depleted after suffering minor physical damage when calling on a short term watcher.. something about his skill had been affected. No doubt some kind of adverse reaction with the metaplanes. Both he and Snig were happy with the detect - it worked a treat out to almost ten office suites he reconed that he could cover a tower block with just a few castings.. not enough to draw in unwanted attention from different quarters but plenty enough for his purposes. The force of the spell would draw immediate investigation if it were spotted so he had to keep it limited - gauging the effect within a building would take time and the subsequent physical injury would mean only a couple of castings before the ruptures and headaches would begin to make it difficult to continue
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Post by wolflet59 on Apr 26, 2009 8:34:58 GMT -5
Now to try out our exchange - the city is surrounded by the spirits which constantly harass us.. If we or rather you could find a small malignant sprite then I could attempt to chain it - what ails you?
Freddy stared at the Mage Alexander - he thought that the excursion to the metaplanes had been completed - there was obviously more...
together they climbed the steps up the city walls - peering out into the grey mists was futile - they would have to be outside. After a discussion on hiring a couple of burly stalwarts for protection it transpired that the powers that be decreed that such foolish forays were banned - so no muscle..
Wrapping themselves descreetly they exited the main gate Snig's tail attracted little attention but the dog did - with the guards flinching as it neared them..
The paladins are the ones who take the fight out to the spirits - we dont want to get entangled in their cause and their politics.. just a quick outing to gather samples
It always started with ' we will only be a short while' or 'nothing to get concerned about'..
They followed the road for a short while coming to a crossroads where Alexander indicated that the bigger ones tended to avoid the farmlands wheras small sprites tended to congregate..
the corn grew waist-high - still the mists swirled - but like the town Freddy noticed that the presence of habitation kept the mists thinner. They walked down a row of soft fruit - something that the sprites could and did affect seemingly out of spite.. He tried the detection at managable levels - soon picking up the scent of a couple of small spirit-creatures..
They sunck up to them - a low bush with ripe berries - four small rat-like creatures were tearing off individual fruits, taking a bite, then throwing the rest to the soil..
Typical mischief - spoiling the best - let me try.. A few attempts later left two bodies fading into mist - destroyed, one scuttering off in panic and the final one held rigid in Alexander's gaze. It turned itself upside-down, bloodied it's face on the bark and ate dirt before Alexander declared with glee that he was satisfied and forced the creature into a money-purse
Back in the library they talked long into the night with the rat-thing peering through the bars - rage in it's beady eyes
The mage knew more than most - it was the job of mages to investigate the enemy - describing their main traits..
there were a whole host of them and their main aim seemed to be to create misery. Over the years people had banded together in fortified villages and hamlets - securing the shutters at night to keep out the hungry spirits. They would posess weak individuals forcing them into all manner of frenzied acts - as a mage it was his duty to attempt to save these posessed - many has been securely restrained only to chew out their tongues screaming obcenities. The first signs would be lust and gluttony then self-pain and moving onto inflicting the same onto others.
there were many beasts out there which suffered too - which is why there were no animals in town - nor beasts kept by farmers. Mages suspected that the spirits occupied similar standing of creature - so the smallest and weakest would occupy low animals like the rat in the cage - which would posess easily distinguishable vices gluttony and rage being most common.
Larger creatures would have more complex motivations - low animal cunning to lead a hunting party astray. Once in a while there would be evidence where a whole hamlet had fought off some monsterous thing in vain with tattered remnants left and many missing. The living dead were often uncovered - people who had been the subject of unspeakable ceremonies with their masters controlling their 'lives' - a parody of life.
The paladins would collect the census - visit and monitor town and hamlet looking out for the signs. Their calling was to hunt down the monsterous ones as well - all mages had a duty to aid this hunt guiding the warriors to the creatures. They tended towards the more vicious animals - vicious mole-rats were often posessed along with wolves which already had a keen intelligence.
It was the embodied ones rather than the drifting spirits which were dangerous - though the spirits always took a host wherever it could. Spirits the weak and injured were ideal hosts - or something which it could overcome in a contest of wills. Alexander had detected strong spirits in able-bodied creatures though the creature was often warped and twisted as though the will of the spirit had bent the physical shell into its own design. There were reports where a strong spirit was able to take on a form for a short period - almost to will itself into physical existence.
now with further concentration he should be able to force his own will onto these vile spirits - spreading the knowledge to purge the land..
Freddy thought about the Conjuring - here it seemed to act directly onto the spirit itself rather than attracting a spirit from another plane which is how he believed cunjoring worked. This meant that spirits here belonged here - or there was no link to another plane. It had often been put forward in papers on summoning that there were other spirit planes akin to the elemental planes
Here it seemed were spirits wanting to become living physical creatures - forcing themselves into living and semi-living shells. Taking on short bursts of phisical existence retaining their spiritual signature - their dual-nature.
are they all vile monsters or are there exceptions..? this dog has not become rabid.. not all but most are - there have been stories where individuals have been saved by glorious beings and animals there is probably some truth in the tales. I suspect that if you take good care and keep the hound close - make it a valued companion that it will remain loyal - content in having a valued purpose. Any good creature can go feral if allowed to wheras a malignant one will be so from the outset
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Post by wolflet59 on Apr 27, 2009 7:51:04 GMT -5
Freddy looked at the hound - should he attempt to take it back with him? His reason for getting here was to learn a heavy hitting detection spell for investigation and eradication.. although it would be useful to have a faithful attack dog he doubted if he could look after it properly.
He belongs here Alexander and you are the only one who can attempt to befreind him.. I'm not much of a master - in fact I have learnt more about the nature of spirits here than I ever did before. Seems like there are a lot of spirits out there who want to be at least partially physical... so they can touch and feel and experience. It looks like many become corrupted or mad - maybe it is a different way of thinking from us.. grabbing at a chance to exist results in a part life if they are dissatisfied being caged in a form. plenty for me to think about..
and that was it - no rush - no falling sensation - he just opened his eyes and he was back in his cool meat body in the lodge of the Snake Oil Shop.
clean water and Hi-En bars soon put him back on his feet and he checked the time, unlocked the security an contemplated for a good while...
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Post by wolflet59 on May 14, 2009 15:18:37 GMT -5
questing 5 (off the cost) for a massive 12 F detect magic = cost of 7 cast at full force will create a 75m radius d magic - around a whole 15 storey-building 150 metres tall /across
Sig has gained a F6 d magic = cost of 1
this would not be noticed by mages outside of the block but will be by anyone inside and alert
autorifle 1 negotiate 1
Total48+12+9+5+4=78 spent 9 +7 spellcast +5 pool +1 +9 initiate=31 +7+1+1+1=41 available=32+6+9=47-7-1-1-1=37
Karma: 7+1
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