<Kaeru> Run: Blackout
<Kaeru> Arc: Orpheus Looks Back
<Kaeru> ETA 5 minutes. THEME: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZPCusOjX58
<Glacon> Kaeru: Andrew Bird - Simple X - length 3m38s - 524↑12↓ - 104,102 views - Ray Huang on 2010.04.11
<Soulless> Joshua arrives. He's healed up, but he's pretty cautious these days.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen heads into the assumed briefing room, a new fanny pack on his waist.
<DSJ> Clark arrives, gear mostly with him.
<War_> Maddy reports! Looking like his usual self, with messy hair and a ridiculous novelty shirt of some description.
<Varren> Ezekiel saunters in and plops into a chair
<spookybee> Hadley steps in, smiling pleasantly at the surrounding agents!
<ArseneLupin> He seems a tad nervous
<Kaeru> A young woman in a durable-looking jumpsuit walks in, the fabric contrasting slightly with a more fragile-looking hijab. She smiles a bit shyly at those assembled and places some files on the table before heading to one end of it herself.
<Varren> Ezekiel seems fine now that those sounds in his head stopped. No more migraines. He smiles between maddy and Stephen.
<DSJ> Clark grabs a file, and waits for the briefer to speak.
<ArseneLupin> He flips through them
<Kaeru> A few of you already know her- Stephen, Maddy, Joshua: it's the same woman who accompanied you all to Maine a little while back.
<spookybee> Hadley scans a file of her own patiently.
<Varren> Ezekiel takes on as well and passes one to maddy
<War_> He smiles a thanks, and flicks through
<ArseneLupin> He gives her a polite and friendly smile
<Kaeru> The file is brief, detailing mostly the layout and specs of an electrical substation. A transcript of a call to local police and a series of four missing persons reports are there as well- all would seem to be for workers for the substation.
<DSJ> "Weird, but, well, did they go missing in the substation? Or something like that?"
<Kaeru> The briefer, whose badge displays the name Alisha Tillman, speaks up. "Um- sorry! Yes- sorry, let me explain." She looks vaguely embarrassed.
<Varren> Ezekiel makes a humming noise, a shirt song that doesn't sound familiar. "And are they over a short time or a longer period?"
<spookybee> "Is there any actual anomalous activity in the reports? This seems like it should be reported to the missing persons unit."
<Kaeru> "The substation depicted is one in western Maine that was the source of a series of power surges in the area. Nothing incredibly abnormal, so a team was sent to assess and repair if necessary. They didn't come back, is the issue."
<Soulless> Joshua thinks this sounds familiar.
<spookybee> "That certainly checks off my list." She nodnods.
<Kaeru> "Local police were going to investigate, but the issue was taken out of their hands when they got a call. I think the transcript is in the file- yes, there it is-" she opens a file set of her own.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen's ears perk up at Maine
<DSJ> "Gotcha… so, has it been a day or two, a week?"
<DSJ> "Because if it's been a week then they've gotta be, I dunno, teleported if they're alive, reduced to ash or whatever if they're dead. Substations aren't big enough to hide for that long."
<Kaeru> The transcript shows a more than slightly panicked-seeming person calling local police speaking of a 'giant moth' attacking the substation that he'd seen after sunset on his way home. "Of course, the police didn't think much of it. That's where we come in." to Clark, she replies, "It's only been a day, but we've had the substation off-limits since we became aware of the case."
<ArseneLupin> "Mothman?"
<DSJ> "Could just be a bigass moth."
<Kaeru> She chuckles a bit, but still looks a bit nervous. "I'm afraid not. What we've seen of this creature goes against the initial description somewhat, but its behavior is somewhat moth-like."
<Varren> "Mothra-wait, never mind."
<DSJ> "Mothman was connected to that whole bridge collapse thing."
<Kaeru> "However, it is more humanoid than might be suggested by that alone." She gives a weak little smile.
<DSJ> "Soo… like a moth, but it's got some person-y parts."
<ArseneLupin> "So not Mothman, but a moth like man. Got it."
<DSJ> "Cool. Wonder if we can use lamps or whatever to lure it out."
<War_> Maddy just looks straight-up fucking baffled
<Kaeru> A nervous smile. "I'm afraid I can't really tell you what to expect. But I've been told to suggest you go in assuming hostility, seeing as we must assume that it has either killed or injured the workers sent to the substation."
<Soulless> Joshua's expression goes very quiet.
<DSJ> "Alright, well, at least a big moth should probably be an easy target."
<Kaeru> "Right. One more thing. You all probably realize that Maine is a bit out of the way, and that flying there will take a little while, but it's not exactly early morning." She presses her lips together for a moment. "The creature in question has only been observable thus far after sunset. So I'm afraid I have to tell you that you'll be arriving around dark."
<DSJ> "S'fine. I need to catch up on my sleep at some point anyways."
<Kaeru> "I know it's not exactly ideal. Of course the substation itself will be lit- assuming the power is active, which it has been every time we've checked so far."
<Varren> "This is all very interesting and all but done know if this thing is dangerous? Or should we assume so? Basically what are the rules of engagement?"
<Soulless> "So it'll be down when we go."
<Varren> "Also ten bucks the lights fail."
<ArseneLupin> "I'll take that bet. Ten bucks it doesnt."
<Kaeru> "Your first priority should be to ensure the safety of civilians in nearby areas. If this means containing the creature, this is preferable, but force is approved if necessary."
<spookybee> "I'll keep a flashlight attached to me to make sure we're not lost in the dark.
<spookybee> "
<Kaeru> "Your only priority is to ensure the creature is not still loose when you've left. How you choose to go about this, I suppose, is up to you."
<ArseneLupin> "So if we can get a big old cage and a giant lightbulb…?"
<Varren> "Within reason….no blowing up the substation "
<War_> "…twenty they fail," he mumbles
<Kaeru> She smiles a bit. "Then maybe you can contain it, yes, and that'd be preferable." She takes a slow breath. "I'm not a combatant. That's what you're all for. But I'll be flying you to a landing sight walking distance from the substation when you're all ready."
<Varren> Ezekiel closes his file and sits up more. "Jokes aside I am ready to go. Let's go moth hunting."
<spookybee> "This seems strange. Should I bring my firearm?"
<ArseneLupin> "I'll match that bet too Maddy."
<DSJ> "Well, not like I've got some elaborate moth-repellent or whatever that I'm waiting on."
<ArseneLupin> "Ready."
<Kaeru> She looks to Hadley and nods. "I would say so, yes."
<War_> "Bet. I'm good to go once I grab my stuff."
<Kaeru> "I'll meet you all there." (timeskip to arrival?)
<spookybee> She nods! "I'll go fetch my gear." She turns and walks out!
<War_> Maddy scootles to get his armour and rucksack.
<War_> (Aye)
<DSJ> (timeskip sure)
<ArseneLupin> (I refuse but go off I guess)
<Varren> "Oh wait. Full gear? Or try to fit in as not a military hut squad?"
<Kaeru> "We've cleared the area of civilians. Gear up." She smiles.
<spookybee> TIMESKEEP!
<Kaeru> (lezzzgo!)
<Varren> (I second the refuse but Democratic)
<ArseneLupin> (I swear if this is fucking Pennywise…)
<Kaeru> You all arrive at the landing site around sunset, and the walk is short to the edge of a tree line near to the substation. It's fairly well lit, but for the moment, you see no sign of the creature…
<Kaeru> Roll perc, if you'd like to stop and assess from the tree line before approaching.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen loads his darts into the fanny pack except one for his gun
<ArseneLupin> 4df+2 Because let's see the meme continue
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: Because let's see the meme continue: 2 (4df+2=0, -, +, 0)
<spookybee> Hadley is geared up with her usual pistol, as well as carrying a FAMAS over her shoulder on a strap! Fancy.
<Varren> 4df+3 squints
<Glacon> Varren: squints: 5 (4df+3=+, 0, +, 0)
<DSJ> 4df+2
<Glacon> DSJ: 1 (4df+2=+, -, 0, -)
<Varren> Oh
<War_> 4df+4 o h
<Glacon> War_: o h: 6 (4df+4=+, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> Stephen, Clark, you don't see any activity from the substation- then again, it is fairly well-shadowed for the most part.
<spookybee> 3df+5 HADLEY
<Glacon> spookybee: HADLEY: 5 (3df+5=+, -, 0)
<spookybee> Sorry had to open her sheet again
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, Maddy, Hadley- your story is different. It's difficult to spot, but there's movement in a shadow fairly high on the structures of the substation.
<War_> "…somethin' up there."
<Kaeru> As you three are focusing on it, trying to determine if it was anything at all, it moves, gliding quickly and smoothly from one shadow to another slightly lower to the ground.
<Soulless> 4df+5 perc sorry
<Varren> Ezekiel watches the area for a second wondering amid a light can reach that far. "I see it..dunno if it sees us."
<Soulless> 4df+5
<Glacon> Soulless: 6 (4df+5=+, 0, -, +)
<DSJ> "Well, at least we know it's there?"
<Kaeru> Joshua, you see it too. It's only lit for a few moments, but it does appear that it can fly, at the very least.
<spookybee> Hadley just kind'a blinks idly.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen dont see shit, but he gets ready
<Soulless> "Hey there, Moth."
<Soulless> His eyes narrow.
<Kaeru> Now that you know it's there, feel free to approach the substation. It's only a few dozen feet away across the grass to the fence, the gates of which are open already.
<War_> "…so. Who wants to take lead."
<DSJ> Clark starts walking towards it- how big does it seem to be, all in all?
<Kaeru> The creature, or the substation, Clark?
<spookybee> "… It's going in lööps. Is that normal for a moth?"
<DSJ> Substation.
<Kaeru> Clark, the substation isn't particularly large, with only one building off to the far corner and the rest of the space towers, transformers and enclosed electrical equipment connected by cables and wires.
<Kaeru> Typical, but only with one central string of connections.
<Kaeru> Of course, this central string is broken into three, as most power structures are.
<DSJ> Right. "Well, doesn't look like we have much ground to cover."
<spookybee> Hads follows up behind Clark.
<Varren> Ezekiel falls in next in line and keeps an eye up.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen just stays ready, a bit anxious
<War_> Maddy follows close to back
<Varren> "Hmmm..forgot to ask what jobs the missing people had. Maybe it freaks out if you turn something off."
<Soulless> Joshua follows, quiet.
<Soulless> "…The Moth reminds me of something I dealt with before."
<DSJ> "Whiiich would be?"
<Kaeru> Those of you who didn't see before, as you approach, catch notice of something. Movement in the shadows, illuminated for a split second by a flash and shower of sparks. A shrill series of chirps that carries clearly to your ears over the distance follows the flash, and the creature swoops away from where it had been to perch atop a high bar of the towers.
<Varren> "yeah that was vague . Should we check out the building first?"
<Soulless> "We'll see first. Let's keep going/"
<ArseneLupin> "Alright gonna keep being vague as fuck thanks for that. Let's go."
<DSJ> "No, honestly, if you have an idea of what's going on maybe, just tell us? We're not gonna throw you to the metaphorical wolves if you're wrong."
<DSJ> "Anyways, yea we should check the building first."
<spookybee> Hadley zooms her vision a little bit, and tilts her head, trying to keep her vision stable while she tracks it.
<spookybee> "What a strange thing."
<Kaeru> It's fairly far away, and not well lit, but it shuffles irritably on its perch. It doesn't seem to be about to go anywhere, just yet.
<Kaeru> If you want to see if you can get a better look at it while it's sitting still, roll away.
<DSJ> 4df+2
<Glacon> DSJ: 0 (4df+2=-, +, -, -)
<Soulless> "The Moth is associated with a phenomenon that takes energy from power sources, and also associwted with a fellow whose lase name is Gale."
<Soulless> "Gale disappeared from a site in new york a bit ago."
<Varren> 4df+3 sure, peek
<Glacon> Varren: sure, peek: 4 (4df+3=0, 0, +, 0)
<Soulless> "Gale drew a month before he disappeared."
<DSJ> "Yeah, that's probably relevant information."
<Soulless> *drew a moth
<DSJ> "Considering the everything about this."
<Soulless> "He was possessed by something, you see. Some sort of forest. Red forest."
<spookybee> 4df+5 owo
<Glacon> spookybee: owo: 3 (4df+5=-, 0, 0, -)
<spookybee> omo
<ArseneLupin> "Thank you for sharing with the class, this is very important stuff."
<spookybee> "Remind me to review this after-action report, Joshua."
<Kaeru> Clark, it's just a silhouette to you, nothing very discernible. Hadley, it's dark for you as well, but you can get the idea that this thing doesn't appear to have large wings, or that they're currently folded if it does. Ezekiel, well-
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, it doesn't seem particularly moth-like at all. By the shape, you'd label it closer to having black fur, and two tall ears twist on the top of its head towards sounds.
<War_> 4df+4 sorry was getting some WOTER
<Glacon> War_: sorry was getting some WOTER: 4 (4df+4=-, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> Maddy, you see what Ezekiel noticed as well.
<ArseneLupin> 4df+2 fuck it may as well
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: fuck it may as well: 3 (4df+2=0, +, -, +)
<Soulless> "I will."
<Soulless> Joshua waits for everyone to be ready to keep going.
<Varren> "Hmmmmmmm. It…almost looks like a cat? The shadow does at least…" he tilts his head and frowns. "Well it isnt coming down so we might as well head in for now, right? It isnt going anywhere."
<Kaeru> Stephen, see Hadley's observations. Both of you- Maddy, Ezekiel- are staring at it when it shifts slightly, head turning to let light catch two round, hollow white eyes, little dots in the darkness. Just after, it chirps, a piercing sort of sound, and moves from its perch over to a slightly lower part of the structures further away.
<Varren> "Maybe there's a way up."
<War_> "…well I'm sure as hell hoping there's stairs because I ain't climbing."
<ArseneLupin> "I failed Gym, this is gonna suck."
<spookybee> "I can try to climb. I'm less likely to be damaged fatally if I fall."
<Kaeru> Once within the substation's exterior fence: the ground is mostly open area, broken up by thin metal columns, by towers and supports, and by areas with transformers that could potentially be used as cover in a pinch.
<spookybee> "I'm not good at climbing, but I am full of metal and covered in very dense silicon."
<Varren> "I mean we can also shoot at it right now but we need to find the missing people."
<Kaeru> A building is at the far corner, one wall of it mostly windows into a lit interior. Lighting equipment, tall and pointed, keeps the substation itself from falling too deeply into shadow.
<ArseneLupin> "Into the building then?"
<Varren> Ezekiel walks into the fence and towards the building. "Into the building"
<DSJ> "Yeah."<DSJ> Clark follows
<spookybee> "I'll work with whatever the team wants."
<War_> Maddy follows as well.
<ArseneLupin> He follows
<Kaeru> You all feel eyes on you as you cross the open ground of the substation, concrete underfoot.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen gets a bit jumpy at that, looking around nervously
<War_> Maddy's taken to rubbing his arms - though not really feeling it, what with the armour under his jacket.
<Soulless> Joshua goes.
<Soulless> He's quietm and calm.
<Kaeru> You don't see anything, but the feeling remains. The building you approach is fairly small, but the door is ajar, interior lit.
<Varren> Ezekiel rubs the back of his head and ignores the feeling outside of glancing where the thing had been. He pushes open the door and steps in to look around.
<spookybee> Hadley skitters around with the group!
<Varren> Gun ready but relaxed
<spookybee> She pulls up her flashlight and flicks it on, peering around.
<Kaeru> Once inside, the lights flicker and a crackling can be heard from outside, quickly followed by a small series of high-pitched, irritable-seeming chirps.
<Kaeru> But they remain on, lighting the room.
<DSJ> "…yeah, it's definitely doing something to the power."
<ArseneLupin> "G-guys I /really/ dont like this."
<Kaeru> It's one central room, with an open door to a smaller area on the far wall. Most walls are covered by large racks of computers and equipment, connected by sets of wires.
<Kaeru> The wall under the windows is a counter of controls, with several rolling chairs near it.
<spookybee> "Hmm… I need to find an electrometer. Preferably digital."
<Kaeru> A table sits in one corner near some of the racks of equipment, and has sets of rolled wires and a few tools on it, but nothing else.
<spookybee> No electricity meters on any of the walls?
<DSJ> Any signs of other people?
<Kaeru> Hadley, you see one, yes, on the counter of controls fairly near to the door you entered in through.
<Kaeru> Clark, not that you see, no.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is gonna look out a window if there's one to try and keep an eye on mothy
<War_> No signs of there being some kind of altercation either? No remains of scratches or blood or nothing? if people are missing and whatnot…
<Kaeru> Stephen, it's dark outside, and the roof over your head stops you from seeing to the tops of the structures… You don't know where it is.
<ArseneLupin> Aaaaand he's freaking out just a bit more
<Varren> Ezekiel isnt too well versed in tech so he just slowly closes the door on behind them all "there Steph, moth cant get in."
<ArseneLupin> Because he doesnt like not knowing
<Kaeru> Maddy, none that you see, no. This room is clean, but there is another room, smaller, across the building- perhaps more of a storage area, dark inside with the light off.
<spookybee> Hadley goes to inspect the electrometer, checking to see if the power drains whenever the lights flicker.
<ArseneLupin> "Can we be 100% sure of that though?"
<Kaeru> Hadley, you wait for the lights to flicker again- and they do after a short moment, accompanied again by those irritable, sharp little sounds, muffled a bit now that you're inside with the door closed. The power fluctuates, but doesn't drain.
<War_> Maddy has a strong urge to go check it out. And, well….he does. It's within the same building at least, so it's not /technically/ wandering off…
<War_> He has a torch ready just in case as he goes
<Varren> "Nope. But what's life with out a little uncertainty?" Ezekiel heads for the other door with a shrug. Oh he follows maddy
<spookybee> Righto!
<DSJ> "Well, looks like those people are still missing."
<Kaeru> Maddy, there's a lightswitch just inside the door, if you'd prefer that to a flashlight.
<spookybee> "It may be feeding off of the power from the lines."
<War_> Oh, definitely
<War_> He flips it!
<spookybee> "It may be wise not to touch it with your bare hands, if we need to contain it, please let me handle it."
<Kaeru> It flickers a bit when it turns on, but stabilizes. It illuminates what is, indeed, a small storage room, for the most part. One wall, in front of you, is covered by wireframe doors over sets of breakers and switches with little lights of different colors near each.
<Soulless> Joshua examines! Can he make heads or tails?
<War_> He blinks.
<War_> Looks back into the main room, "Any of you guys an electrician by any chance because this is a load of bull to me."
<War_> Are there any containers or documents or any sign of people?
<DSJ> "I know a lot about electricity, yeah."
<Varren> Ezekiel whistles at the second room. He resists the urge to call it a puzzle. He steps in and looks for any word lables
<DSJ> Clark looks over at whatever Maddy is looking at
<Kaeru> Maddy, no sign of people, no. There are boxes of files on one of the nearby shelves, though. Joshua, did you follow Maddy?
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is still looking out the window nervously, trying to catch something despite him not being able to. "I'll be uh, lookout… let me know if you need me."
<Soulless> Joshua do!
<Kaeru> Clark, Joshua, anyone looking at what Maddy found in the other room- roll ENG, kiddos. Stephen, roll PERC if you'd like, just to see if you can spot where it is.
<ArseneLupin> 4df+2 We both know where this is going
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: We both know where this is going: 3 (4df+2=+, +, 0, -)
<War_> Maddy sifts through the files in the mean time, looking for anything of interest or relevance
<DSJ> 4df+6 ENGINEERING WOO
<Glacon> DSJ: ENGINEERING WOO: 5 (4df+6=-, -, 0, +)
<Kaeru> Stephen, actually, you do see it! It swoops down from above where you'd been able to see and perches restlessly on a bar of one of the towers within your line of sight. Enshadowed, and decently far away, but you can see it, at least for now.
<ArseneLupin> He watches that fucker like a hawk with his two perception
<Kaeru> Maddy, it's mostly just updates, reports, schematics of equipment and the like. A few repair reports, or upgrades, etc. But the next box over- that catches your interest a bit more. Personnel files.
<War_> He hauls that box over to a clear space to start searchin'!
<Varren> Ezekiel moves out if the second room ti give the people more room to work. He looks around the main room for anything of interest.
<Kaeru> Clark, it's fairly simple, actually. It's just a breaker room. Main breakers are the larger switches, and subsections are represented by smaller ones, lights green yellow or red for status. All are green except a few yellow, some flickering between green and yellow uncertainly.
<ArseneLupin> Ezek you'll see Stephen more or less pressed against the glass of the window
<spookybee> Hadley stands where she is, toting her rifle like a baby.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, unfortunately, it seems fairly standard. Three rolling chairs, one pushed a bit to the side of the consoles, racks of computers with tangles of cables connecting them…
<Kaeru> Stephen, it hasn't moved yet, so you'd be able to point it out to Ezekiel if you wanted to.
<DSJ> Are there any labels to indicate where the yellow sections would be outside? Also, hypothetically, what would happen if these breakers were pulled?
<ArseneLupin> "I got eyes on the thing guys, dont worry." He thumbs up
<Varren> "Stephen, that thing is going to disappear and slam against the glass if you keep that up."
<Kaeru> Clark, there are labels, but unfortunately, the little letter-number combinations mean nothing to you without schematics or blueprints of the station.
<ArseneLupin> "I'm fiiiiiine."
<DSJ> Weren't they provided schematics at the briefing?
<Soulless> (sorry family here)
<Soulless> (is ok now)
<Kaeru> They were, yes, but they weren't labeled the same way, Clark- and even so, you don't remember well enough, with so many. But surely there would be blueprints of some sort within the station, logically at least.
<Soulless> Does anyone in the group have engineering bolded on their sheet?
<Soulless> Oh wait VClark does
<DSJ> "Alright, any of y'all find schematics?"
<Soulless> nvm Joshua just chills and watches.
<spookybee> Hadley does as well, actually.
<DSJ> "I think I can figure out where we ought to check out with 'em."
<War_> "There's a whole box of random shit," Maddy says, pointing
<Varren> Ezekiel sits in a rolling chair and thinks about how they might have lost people in this situation. What it could be outside could be eating them…but that seems to be the main option since there isnt much here.
<Kaeru> Hey, Maddy. You found some, flipping through things earlier, yes.
<War_> He's still looking through the personnel records
<DSJ> "Could also just pull the breakers and see where that gets us."
<War_> "Check the box first at least. I'm like, 90% sure I saw schematics."
<Kaeru> Maddy, you flip through, seeing mostly standard files that don't catch much attention. You do eventually find one you recognize, though. About halfway through the box, you've located the file on one of the missing persons.
<War_> He pulls it out, and gives it a good look over.
<War_> "Hey, I think I found one of our guys."
<Soulless> Joshua looks over. "Oh?"
<DSJ> Clark investigates da box, then.
<Varren> Ezekiel casually stands up and goes for the door outside. He puts his hand on the knob and turns it, looking at Stephen.
<ArseneLupin> "Hm? Want me to come with?"
<Kaeru> Maddy, the file you found is on someone called Diane Rackham. Looks like she was an engineer often called in for repairs…
<Kaeru> but she hadn't been called in a while, the last recorded call being a few months ago.
<Varren> "I figured you wouldn't want me opening the door." He pushes the door open to gauge the reaction of anything.
<Kaeru> Clark, you easily enough find blueprints that display the substation as a whole. With labels!
<DSJ> Woo.
<DSJ> So, what sections are flickery?
<ArseneLupin> "I know where this thing is, that's what matters to me." Does it move when Ezek opens the door?
<War_> "Diane Rackham…repairs gal but by the looks of it hasn't been called in for service in a few months…"
<War_> "Hm."
<War_> Maddy goes looking for more files that match the missing personnel
<Kaeru> They seem to be clustered in certain areas. A few yellows in one corner, then a few more closer to the center, and one or two a ways away. Little problem areas. The flickering ones don't flicker constantly, more staying stable at green or yellow mostly before flickering a bit for a few moments. Those seem also to occupy the cluster areas.
<Kaeru> Maddy, you find them fairly easily, since you're looking. Three, in total, though, not four- there were four missing persons.
<DSJ> "Right, so they're all kinda going in clusters… here's a though."
<DSJ> *thought."
<DSJ> "We could pull the breakers and force it somewhere."
<War_> He hums to himself.
<War_> "Piss. Right, I got three of our guys…" he says more to himself than anything.
<War_> He sets the three side by side, open, and begins looking for similarities
<Kaeru> Other than Diane Rackham: Jack Allen, a daytime worker most days of the week, currently actively employed. Silas Olidan, a less regular worker more focused on coming in weekly or so to assess possible damages, etc.
<spookybee> Hadley walks over to Maddy to see what he's got goin' on!
<spookybee> "Anything else?"
<Kaeru> Maddy, if you'd like to try to remember the name of the final person you were looking for, you can roll any INT skill or History.
<Varren> Ezekiel takes a step out of the door and pulls out a flash light, shining it up towards where the thing might be. He is only a step out the door.
<Soulless> Can Joshua roll?
<ArseneLupin> Stephen eyes this thing while Ezek does so
<Soulless> Joshua looks for anything else weird.
<Kaeru> Clark, that might work, but you know for a fact that flipping breakers not in green status risks shorts and surges, not to mention risking not being able to turn them back on.
<Kaeru> Sure, Joshua can.
<War_> 4df+4 rolling logic!
<Glacon> War_: rolling logic!: 5 (4df+4=-, +, +, 0)
<DSJ> "…alternatively, fuck it, I dunno, we could try using the stuff in here to electrocute the moth."
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you see it easily enough, especially when the flashlight is on it. The light catches two white circles, blank eyes ringed by shadow, and it makes a shrill, sharp trilling sound and quickly ducks away from the light.
<Soulless> 4df+5 history
<Glacon> Soulless: history: 5 (4df+5=0, +, 0, -)
<Kaeru> Maddy, you remember easily enough! The name was Christopher White. In fact, you recall as well- that wasn't the same as the other reports. Joshua, you realize as well.
<Kaeru> The final person was a police officer sent to investigate when the three workers did not return.
<Soulless> "…Hm."
<War_> "Ah…"
<War_> "Three missing workers and a missing cop."
<spookybee> "…"
<War_> He closes the files and stacks them on top of one another, leaving them on the table for now
<spookybee> "A missing cop."
<War_> "Well. I think…might be mis-remembering.."
<War_> "But definitely three missing workers," he jabs a thumb to the files
<Varren> "Oh." He lowers the light and counts to ten and raises it again.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you raise it again, but the creature is gone. You're not sure where it is.
<Kaeru> You can roll PERC to try and find out, if you want, either from outside or after going back in.
<spookybee> "If it's taking police, we should raise our danger expectations."
<ArseneLupin> Stephen decides staring out this window is doing nothing but helping his fear, but its not even doing that now that it's gone
<Varren> 4df+3 eh, outside is fine barely a foot from the door.
<Glacon> Varren: eh, outside is fine barely a foot from the door.: 4 (4df+3=+, -, 0, +)
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you swing your flashlight to search your surroundings, and feel confident it's not anywhere near you. You think you see movement far away on the upper parts of one of the towers, but you're not certain.
<Varren> Ezekiel walks back into the station and closes the door. "Well. That thing doesnt seem to enjoy light. Shined it and it maybe fell back. Not too sure."
<ArseneLupin> "Whatever we're doing we should decide soon. We're acomplishing nothing sitting here."
<Kaeru> The night is calm, quiet aside from the hum of machinery broken up by sets of sharp little chirps from outside and the occasional sound of flickering and crackling in power flow.
<War_> "I mean. I found the files of the missing guys at least."
<spookybee> "It was a good find."
<DSJ> "Yeah. Like I've been saying, we can get this thing to go somewhere specific if we flip some switches, maybe."
<War_> "Though I dont really see any linking factor in why they're the ones to go missing, other than they've been working with this place."
<spookybee> "What city is this substation linked to?"
<ArseneLupin> "We could start with the green, less risk."
<Varren> "Wasnt it said that there are three other little sub areas as well?"
<DSJ> "In all honesty, I think the Foundation can just spin a story about equipment failure or something if they've gotta, so I wouldn't worry about where this power's for."
<Kaeru> Hadley, you can remember that the substation is connected to Rockwood and surrounding areas.
<spookybee> She recalls now!
<War_> Maddy goes to the door and looks out - any other actual buildings they could go to and look inside as well?
<Kaeru> Maddy, no, there aren't any other buildings aside from the one you're in.
<War_> Balls.
<War_> He slinks back in
<Kaeru> Maddy, as you're returning inside, something catches the corner of your eye from outside.
<Soulless> Joshua dwells. Can he consider the historical significance of this place, maybe?
<War_> Oh?
<War_> He turns and sticks hisbhead out the door again
<Kaeru> Maddy, you stare straight into the eyes of the creature, perched not far away atop a transformer box and staring with round, white eyes. It blinks.
<Kaeru> Joshua, if you'd like, sure.
<War_> He reels back
<War_> " - Jesus fucking fuck -"
<Varren> Ezekiel grabs Maddy and pulls him into the door again. "What?"
<DSJ> "…are we doing the breaker thing or not?"
<War_> He points!
<DSJ> "Because we can't stay in here forever."
<spookybee> "I can."
<ArseneLupin> "I vote yes."
<Soulless> "What?"
<Soulless> Joshua looks.
<Soulless> 4df+5 history
<Glacon> Soulless: history: 3 (4df+5=-, +, -, -)
<Kaeru> Maddy- It makes a surprised little chirp at your reaction and hurries to a higher point a little further away.
<spookybee> "… But I would get very lonely after around fifty or so years."
<War_> " - it's right over there -"
<Soulless> "It /what/"
<Soulless> Joshue pokes his head out.
<spookybee> Hadley looks over to where Madison points it out.
<Kaeru> Joshua, this place has been around a little while, but not incredibly long, upgraded regularly to meet changing equipment needs and standards. Nothing particularly noteworthy, that you can think of.
<DSJ> "…god. Okay, so, breaker thing to lure it somewhere specific, yes or no?"
<Kaeru> Joshua, you see it, a little ways away, staring.
<Kaeru> Hadley, you do, too.
<DSJ> "And if we do it, are we shooting it or what?"
<spookybee> "It's a good plan."
<DSJ> "Cause I doubt any of us speak moth."
<War_> "It's literally right over there."
<spookybee> "Trying to communicate in English is available."
<War_> "Are you not seeing this."
<spookybee> Hadley looks over.
<Varren> Ezekiel makes sure maddy is steady. "Yeah Clark, you work on that. I'm gonna say hi." Ezekiel wanders out the door, a good five feet and looks around.
<Soulless> Can Joshua confirm?
<spookybee> She waves a hand at it in greeting.
<Soulless> "HOLY FUCK"
<Soulless> "Hi Moth- where did you put Gale?"
<Kaeru> Anyone who can see the creature currently, roll perc if you'd like to get a better look, since it's closer than it's been to you so far.
<Soulless> 4df+5 perc
<spookybee> 4df+5 owo
<Glacon> spookybee: owo: 4 (4df+5=+, -, 0, -)
<Glacon> Soulless: perc: 2 (4df+5=0, -, -, -)
<Varren> 4df+3
<Glacon> Varren: 0 (4df+3=-, -, -, 0)
<Soulless> RIP
<War_> 4df+4 owo
<Glacon> War_: owo: 2 (4df+4=-, -, +, -)
<War_> :(
<War_> We're blind
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, it watches you, shifting restlessly. It looks to Joshua when he speaks, tilting its head slightly, leaning a bit forward as if in interest.
<Kaeru> Hadley, you can see it fairly well, even if you're the only one who can.
<spookybee> "Hello."
<Kaeru> Hadley, you wouldn't label it as a moth at all, really. Physically, it's fairly humanoid, but pointed ears on top of its head and dark-colored fur and skin suggest something more mammalian, perhaps bat-like.
<Kaeru> It blinks at you. Stares, like it understands.
<spookybee> She smiles.
<spookybee> "Please wave at me if you can understand me."
<Varren> Ezekiel whistles softly a few times and waves at the animal to come closer like it's a stray cat or something.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen heads outside, curious at all this
<Kaeru> Hadley, there's a moment of hesitation, without reaction, but it- smiles? back? Well, sort of. Its mouth is far too wide for a humanoid figure, and lined by thin, sharp teeth. It shifts, moving its arms and partially unfolding webs of skin. Wings.
<Soulless> Does Joshua notice that it leans to him?
<Soulless> Black. And bright eyes. Humanoid. Orion had those traits.
<spookybee> "I think it may be friendly." This thing's outside still, right?
<DSJ> Clark heads downstairs, kinda sad there's no need to flip the breakers and see things break.
<Kaeru> Yes, it's still outside. And Joshua, you do notice, but it's a subtle movement.
<War_> Maddy slowly shuffles outside, hoping this thing doesn't try to eat them
<spookybee> Hadley heads back outside, and walks over as close as she can and looks up at Mister Batty Ears!
<ArseneLupin> "Is it just me or is he kind of cute?"
<Soulless> "Gale."
<spookybee> "I don't know what qualifies for cute."
<Soulless> "I'm looking for Gale. A man."
<Varren> Ezekiel us already out there. Apparently whistling wont work.
<Soulless> "I'm told Moth took him."
<spookybee> Hadley reaches a hand up to it! Not t grab it, but kind of a general fingertip-brushing gesture at it, like one would do to a fairly intelligent cat.
<War_> "…it is kinda cute but appearing out of nowhere is kinda terrifying."
<War_> "….wanna pet it though."
<Kaeru> It watches you, Hadley, as you approach. It's about 20 feet up, on a crossbar between supports for one of the towers. It blinks, but its head snaps up when Joshua speaks.
<Kaeru> Joshua, roll perc.
<DSJ> "This thing may have killed like four people, we probably shouldn't be calling it fucking cute."
<ArseneLupin> "Things can be cute /and/ murderous."
<Soulless> 4df+5
<Glacon> Soulless: 3 (4df+5=0, -, -, 0)
<spookybee> "We don't know that."
<War_> "I mean. We're not dead."
<Varren> "Can we not pet the possible hungry creature?"
<Soulless> "I'm of a mind with Clark."
<War_> "If it wanted us dead we would be."
<Soulless> 4df+5 fuck you I'm using my reroll of the day
<Glacon> Soulless: fuck you I'm using my reroll of the day: 7 (4df+5=+, -, +, +)
<Soulless> ayyy
<DSJ> "I dunno, it's not like it has guns. We have guns, so it'd probably be dead."
<Kaeru> Joshua, it does look humanoid in shape, but the facial structure, all the individual traits- they're not quite right. But the stranger thing, Joshua, isn't any of that.
<War_> "Then shoot, see what freakin' happens."
<spookybee> "If guns worked on every strange thing, we wouldn't be a necessary organization, agent Clark."
<Kaeru> Joshua, you look at it- and though it's different, not quite human- you know those features.
<spookybee> "And I probably wouldn't exist, either."
<DSJ> "They generally work on kinda conventional things, but whatever, fine. Trust the probably dangerous bat-whatever."
<Kaeru> Joshua, just barely, you can recognize it. You know who this is.
<spookybee> "I don't trust it."
<ArseneLupin> "I didnt say trust it, I just said it was cute."
<spookybee> Hadley continues wiggling her fingies at it!
<Varren> Ezekiel decides to try a trick he used to use on bats back in the day and breaks open an MRE. He finds some small amount of food and yeets it upward, not at the bat but near.
<Soulless> "…"
<Varren> "Well it hasnt attacked and it is acting pretty docile…but i am keeping an eye on it."
<Soulless> Is it Gale?
<Kaeru> It had been staring, near-unblinking, at Joshua, but it looks back down to Hadley. When Ezekiel throws the food, it doesn't look up- but a hand, dark and taloned on the end of a webbed wing, snaps up and catches what he throws.
<Kaeru> Joshua, it is.
<spookybee> "May I come up to you?"
<Soulless> Joshua steps out.
<Soulless> "Gale."
<Soulless> "Oh god, Gale. What /happened/ to you? Come down from here. Let's talk. These- these are my /friends/"
<spookybee> She blinks, and looks at Joshua. "Gale?"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen blinks and his eyes widen. "W-wait that's Gale!?"
<Soulless> "Do you- do you want a watch-" He turns around at the team. "This is- this is Gale. The man that went missing on Site-<I don't remember>."
<Soulless> He takes off his watch and offers it.
<Kaeru> Stephen, looking at it, you- you see it too. He's right.
<War_> "…do what."
<Varren> "Oh, that worked…well it reacts like a bat, movement it seems…movement and speech.oh this was that guy….how?"
<ArseneLupin> "…oh shit…"
<spookybee> Hadley searches through her memory banks for missing personnel IDs.
<Kaeru> It looks at Joshua, and skitters down to a slightly lower support, but doesn't come any closer aside from that.
<Kaeru> Hadley, you find nothing with that name.
<DSJ> "Christ, so… those missing people. Damn."
<Soulless> Joshua steps forward, holding the watch up to Gale.
<Soulless> 4df+4 Persuasion. "Gale. It's me. We talked about them. The forest."
<Glacon> Soulless: Persuasion. "Gale. It's me. We talked about them. The forest.": 7 (4df+4=+, +, 0, +)
<spookybee> "I don't have any information on an agent named Gale."
<Soulless> "Come on down. See my friends. They're safe."
<Soulless> Gale wasn't an agent. He was a biologist that got affected with a temporal anomaly and was taken into custody.
<Soulless> He went missing some weeks ago.
<spookybee> "… Gale, then. Gale, are you still human?"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is just in shock. "H-how the hell… what…"
<Kaeru> It blinks- once, twice. It drops from its perch and, using a strange hands on the ends of wings to climb itself down, reaches the ground. It stands, and seems more human, on the same elevation as you all.
<Kaeru> Its head is slightly lowered, eyes up but blank, hard to tell exactly where it's looking.
<Soulless> "C-can you talk?"
<spookybee> Hadley reaches over and brushes her fingers at Gale's fur.
<Kaeru> It speaks. It's a shrill, tortured sound, as if made by a creature not made for speech. It flinches away from the touch, but does nothing more, seeming jumpy, defensive. "… I. …Yes."
<Kaeru> The fur is brittle, stiff.
<ArseneLupin> "W-what happened?"
<Soulless> He nods over to Stephen.
<spookybee> "Does it hurt to speak?"
<Kaeru> It takes a long time to respond. "… Yes."
<ArseneLupin> Stephen reaches into his bag and pulls out a notepad and paper. "Is this better?" He offers them
<War_> Maddy just blinks and stares. Its kinda hard to make sense of the shrill voice
<Soulless> Joshua keeps a lookout for danger.
<Soulless> He nods to Maddy. "This is… a man that went missing."
<Soulless> "One of our contained people."
<Kaeru> He recoils instinctually, defensive, reacting to approach. Wings half-rise as if to retreat, but it stays on the ground, for the moment.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen stops and puts the book on the ground before stepping back. "It's alright… it's alright."
<Varren> "Well..gale. do you know what happened to the missing people?"
<spookybee> "We aren't going to hurt you, we're here to help. My name is Hadley. I'm one of Joshua's… Friends."
<Kaeru> It blinks. Blinks again. In its demeanor, it seems to become more restless, jumpy and nervous. It backs up a few steps. When it responds to Ezekiel's question, its voice is even shriller, strained, confused and panicky. "Don't- I didn't-! Remember- I could- Can't-"
<Kaeru> It's hard to understand, pieces and words lost to incomprehensibility.
<spookybee> "It's fine. No need for a hurry."
<spookybee> "I just need to know if you were the one that took those people."
<spookybee> "Just nod, or shake your head, okay?"
<spookybee> Hadley's petting his shoulder!
<ArseneLupin> "We're not gonna hurt you Gale, just stay calm."
<Soulless> "It's okay."
<Soulless> "Gale, just breathe with me."
<Kaeru> It pulls away sharply, putting distance between itself and Hadley when she approaches, a flick of its wings carrying it up atop a nearby transformer box. It crouches there, hands on its head, holding down its ears.
<Soulless> "Gale… drew things. Before he disappeared."
<spookybee> "If you come with us, we can help you! Possibly cure you of this change. And if not, we could at least make it easier on you."
<War_> "…you guys are overwhelming him with all the questions n stuff."
<spookybee> "Oh- Right! Right, I sometimes forget, you organics are so easy to overwhelm. I'll have to remember that."
<Varren> Ezekiel takes a moment and softly clicks his tongue a few times, lowering his voice to being half volume. "We just want to help him and those people but you are right. We dont even know how he got this way."
<War_> Maddy sits, crossing his legs. Smaller threat.
<War_> He looks up at Gale, head cocked to the side.
<spookybee> "We probably won't be able to learn if he's scared and in pain. I'm sure if we bring him with us, we can get him more comfortable." She nods to Ezekiel.
<Soulless> "Ok. Who among us is best at talking."
<Kaeru> Maddy, it watches you. But something catches its eye. High up and to its right, a shower of sparks, a small electrical pop. Its gaze snaps up to it and after only a moment of hesitation, it leaps upwards, flying with surprising ease over to the source, high on one of the towers.
<War_> Maddy turns to follow his movements
<Varren> Ezekiel does the same
<ArseneLupin> Stephen looks as he jumps from the sudden movement
<spookybee> Hadley's head snaps to attention again. "I wonder what's got him so worked up."
<War_> "Probably 'cause y'all were gabbing at him at once…"
<Kaeru> You can see it, high up and hanging onto a tower by a taloned hand and foot. It reaches near to the source of the sparks, wraps long claws around a small supporting metal beam, and-
<War_> He scoots to his feet
<spookybee> "Don't be such a branch in the wet dirt, Madison."
<Kaeru> there's a sound of straining, tearing metal. He pulls the beam from its place with a series of chattering chirps and tosses it to one side.
<Kaeru> It clatters loudly onto the ground after falling the distance.
<spookybee> "… Oh no."
<ArseneLupin> He slowly starts to drift his hand down to his dart gun
<War_> "Wonder what he's doing…"
<Kaeru> It makes a shrill, distance-quieted screech. It moves a small distance and puts claws into a small power hub, tearing through wires and rubber-encased cables. The lights flicker.
<Soulless> "Maybe he's agitated by the lights."
<Kaeru> Small arcs of power jump to its skin, and it quickly retreats to a high perch nearby, restless, defensive.
<Soulless> 4df+4 persuasion "Gale! Come back! Let's talk@"
<Glacon> Soulless: persuasion "Gale! Come back! Let's talk@": 3 (4df+4=0, -, -, +)
<Varren> "Oh….well I think it's time to shut off the breakers? Stephens gonna owe me money."
<DSJ> Clark heads for the breakers, then.
<Kaeru> Its eyes snap to joshua and it responds with a sharp chirp that easily travels the distance to his ears. But then it moves.
<ArseneLupin> "There are semantics over failing and being destroyed that we can discuss later."
<Kaeru> It swoops silent through the air until it's perched atop the building, just above the door. Clark, by the time it lands, you're still a good ten feet from the door.
<Kaeru> It trills irritably.
<Soulless> "Clark. It's okay."
<DSJ> "…look, Gale, mothman, batperson, whatever. I can turn off the, uh, lights? If that would help. Would that help?"
<Soulless> "We're going to shut it off, okay?"
<Kaeru> It makes a series of sharp, piercing sounds, something resembling speech but not understandable at all.
<spookybee> "This is vexing."
<Kaeru> Clark, Joshua- do either of you approach the door closer than where Clark had already been?
<DSJ> Clark does. He can dodge if need be, probably.
<Soulless> 4df+5 insight!
<Glacon> Soulless: insight!: 6 (4df+5=+, +, 0, -)
<Varren> Ezekiel makes a face
<Soulless> Does Joshua know what Gale wants?
<Kaeru> Joshua, it seems- protective. Territorial. Defending. You don't notice this soon enough to warn Clark of it.
<Soulless> "Clark- be careful-"
<Kaeru> Clark, roll ACRO- RES doesn't apply.
<DSJ> 4df+5 yote
<Glacon> DSJ: yote: 7 (4df+5=+, +, -, +)
<Kaeru> 4df+6 short distance
<Glacon> Kaeru: short distance: 6 (4df+6=-, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> It swoops down from its perch above the door towards you, but you are able to step out of the way enough to avoid it. It spins and skids on the ground, still facing you.
<Kaeru> Do you continue inside?
<DSJ> Hell yeah. The breakers need to be flipped.
<Kaeru> Just making a break for it, then?
<DSJ> Yep.
<War_> Maddy moves to shoo off Gale. Feels kinda bad trying to scare him, though
<Kaeru> Alright. Roll another ACRO.
<Varren> Ezekiel shines a flashlight at Gale to distract
<DSJ> 4df+5 swoop
<Glacon> DSJ: swoop: 5 (4df+5=-, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> It makes a shrill, piercing noise, and leaps after Clark into the building and away from the light.
<Soulless> 4df+4 persuasion "Gale, sh, it's okay. Trust us? Trust us?"
<Glacon> Soulless: persuasion "Gale, sh, it's okay. Trust us? Trust us?": 4 (4df+4=-, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> 4df+7 it's behind you
<Glacon> Kaeru: it's behind you: 4 (4df+7=0, -, -, -)
<Soulless> He runs after Gale oh shit
<War_> Maddy barrels in after, now with the intent of tackling it down
<ArseneLupin> Stephen's eye widen and he follows
<Kaeru> Clark, you swing the door mostly closed behind you, and it hits the door as it leaps, throwing it off course. It skids slightly, crashing heavily into the racks of equipment across the room.
<DSJ> Clark looks for the breaker room and sorta lunges at it.
<Kaeru> It screeches, an angry, piercing sound that echoes through the small concrete structure. Roll res, anyone inside the building or at the doorway.
<ArseneLupin> 4df+7 Woops that's me
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: Woops that's me: 6 (4df+7=-, 0, 0, 0)
<DSJ> 4df+2 o shit
<Glacon> DSJ: o shit: 1 (4df+2=-, +, 0, -)
<War_> 4df+4 eek
<Glacon> War_: eek: 7 (4df+4=+, +, 0, +)
<War_> Oh.
<Kaeru> 4df+8 cover your ears
<Glacon> Kaeru: cover your ears: 5 (4df+8=0, -, -, -)
<spookybee> Hadley looks over- "Oh no…"
<Kaeru> Stephen, Maddy, you both manage to put your hands over your ears to block most of the sound. Clark, on the other hand-
<Kaeru> 2d2
<Glacon> Kaeru: 4 (2d2=2, 2)
<Kaeru> well, oof. Clark, take 4 mhp damage, and you have a -2 to all perc, speed, and strength rolls/checks until you are no longer considered staggered.
<War_> Once the screech is finished, Maddy moves to tackle and pin batboy if possible
<Soulless> 4df+2 no res
<Glacon> Soulless: no res: 0 (4df+2=0, -, 0, -)
<DSJ> wellll, that's enough to fall unconscious as per the rules, so he do.
<Kaeru> Joshua, your proximity to the door results in the same effects as Clark experiences. However, neither of you fall unconscious- the world swims, dizzying and disorienting, but you remain awake.
<DSJ> In that case, Clark kinda staggers towards the breaker room
<ArseneLupin> Can Stephen go and Rebuff Clark to get rid of staggered?
<Kaeru> Maddy, before you can try, it's moving again. Clark, roll acro, with the -2 penalty from stagger.
<DSJ> 4df+3
<Kaeru> Stephen, rebuff would apply, yes- but Joshua is the only one currently easy to get to. The creature is between you and Clark.
<Glacon> DSJ: 4 (4df+3=-, 0, +, +)
<Varren> Ezekiel didnt follow right away because the mass of people running. He takes a second to look up at where it had been tearing shit up, anything stand out?
<Kaeru> 4df+5 leap
<Glacon> Kaeru: leap: 3 (4df+5=-, 0, -, 0)
<ArseneLupin> Alright I'll get Josh then
<War_> Maddy still fully intends to tackle this fucker as soon as he gets the chance
<Kaeru> Clark, even in your dizziness, you step away from the doorway as the creature leaps towards it. It hits the wall of breakers on the other side of the small room. Sparks and crackling result, and lights flicker, the lights in the smaller room out entirely.
<Kaeru> The ones in the larger room continue to flicker, but remain on.
<DSJ> 4df+6 ENG Clark flips the rest of the breakers, etc
<Glacon> DSJ: ENG Clark flips the rest of the breakers, etc: 6 (4df+6=-, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> Clark, you're still outside the breaker room. But you can't see well inside of it, with the lights out. You can't see the creature.
<Soulless> Joshua leans against a wall, staggered, disoriented.
<DSJ> Oh wait rip
<Soulless> "Have to stop- the sun- because of light?"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen rebuffs Joshua, giving him a little smack to snap him out of Staggered
<DSJ> Could Clark use his plasma welder thing as a makeshift flashlight?
<Soulless> Is Joshua out of staggered?
<ArseneLupin> I believe so?
<Kaeru> Clark, you can try- but you'd have to get closer to the door to shine it inside, and you don't know where the creature is.
<Kaeru> Joshua, yes, you are no longer considered staggered.
<Kaeru> Clark, you are still staggered, but since some time has passed, all penalties are only -1 by now.
<DSJ> "HEY, MOTHFUCKER. WE ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU, YOU TINY-BRAINED SIDESHOW ACT. SO, HOW ABOUT YOU LEAVE ME ALONE, ALRIGHT?"
<Soulless> Joshua shines a flashlight to help Clark see.
<DSJ> 4df+1 where breaker
<Glacon> DSJ: where breaker: 0 (4df+1=-, +, 0, -)
<DSJ> (that was perc btw)
<Kaeru> Joshua, your flashlight illuminates the creature, crouching against the damaged gates in front of the wall of breakers. Its eyes shine, reflecting the light, and it trills an angry series of chirps and darts out of the room. Clark, it comes disturbingly close to you, you can feel it move past you- but it doesn't try to hurt you. It leaps to the top of the computer racks and from there outside, through the open door.
<Kaeru> It's fast. Very fast.
<Varren> Oh Ezekiel is out here. He jerks and hits the dirt as it flies out of the building, ripped from looking where it had been attacking at substation.
<Kaeru> Maddy, it lands just outside the door. There's a moment where it's stationary, on the ground outside- it's a small moment, but you're near enough. Do you take the chance you get?
<Soulless> "Ok Clark."
<War_> He sure fuckin does
<Kaeru> Maddy, roll melee, assuming you're going to try to tackle it.
<DSJ> Clark goes for the breakers cause by god he's gonna flip them.
<War_> 4df+6 str i got a spec for this ;w;
<Glacon> War_: str i got a spec for this ;w;: 7 (4df+6=+, -, +, 0)
<Kaeru> Clark, some of the gates in front of the breaker panels are damaged enough to prevent access to the breakers, which have likely also sustained damage anyway. But you manage to disable a decent number of them.
<DSJ> woo
<Kaeru> Maddy, you tackle the thing. It's larger than you, taller, but it's surprisingly lightweight. Its odd shape makes it hard to grapple, thin skin of wings spread between its arms and its back.
<War_> Maybe he can straddle it at least? He's a heavylad
<Soulless> Joshua, hearing the chaos, comes back. Seeing this nuttiness, he gets rope and ties Gale up.
<War_> He mumbles out a very genuine 'I'm sorry' to Gale
<Kaeru> He, unfortunately, isn't exactly pinned. Maddy, you land on top of him, and instead of trying to shake you off, his arms go to his sides, wings spread.
<Kaeru> Maddy, roll acro.
<Varren> Can Ezekiel help? He isnt far away
<War_> 4df+3 h ?
<Glacon> War_: h ?: 3 (4df+3=0, +, 0, -)
<War_> H
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you can try to pull Maddy off of it before it can get off the ground, but it'd be difficult. Roll athletics.
<Kaeru> if you want to try it, that is.
<Varren> Hmmmm dont need it flying off with him. Can Ezekiel jump onto it as well?
<Kaeru> He could either try to get Maddy away, or try to keep the thing on the ground, but not both. Either would be ATH.
<Varren> 4df+2 not defensive so luck spec cant apply
<Glacon> Varren: not defensive so luck spec cant apply: 4 (4df+2=+, 0, 0, +)
<Kaeru> Which is he attempting?
<Varren> Oh. To help keep it down
<Kaeru> Roll RES for me.
<Varren> 4df+4 if this is defensive it can add up to four more to pass
<Glacon> Varren: if this is defensive it can add up to four more to pass: 4 (4df+4=0, -, +, 0)
<Kaeru> It is defensive. Do you want to add to it?
<Varren> How much to pass?
<Kaeru> You'd only need one more point to pass.
<Kaeru> I assume you'd like to add it?
<Varren> Yup!
<Kaeru> 4df+6 wingspan
<Glacon> Kaeru: wingspan: 7 (4df+6=0, +, -, +)
<Kaeru> You grab for it to try to keep it on the ground, but it's stronger than you- by a good bit. As it focuses on you, it shifts away from Maddy, and talons grab for you instead- but you're able to use your grip on it to stop it from getting hold of you.
<Kaeru> It takes to the air, swoops a decent distance away, sits restlessly atop the roof at the far end of the building.
<DSJ> Clark staggers out of the building, to the door. He's ready to shoot the thing if need be. It'd probably help.
<DSJ> Maybe.
<Kaeru> Clark, you are no longer considered staggered. It's still a bit disorienting, but you're able to shake it.
<Soulless> "Gale calm down we're here to help-"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen heads out, in a solid state of what the fuck. "What happened?"
<Varren> Ezekiel throws out his arms at BatGale "The hell you want?" Ezekiel raises his rifle at gale and then looks up again at the upper areas with all the power stuff that had been attacked.
<War_> "…yknow I'm really surprised that thing could get up…"
<Varren> "Hey guys I am gonna try something.."
<DSJ> "Any of y'all bring a net?"
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you're able to spot several areas where damage has been inflicted to the structures of the towers and the cabling between them.
<ArseneLupin> "No but I did bring a lot of darts if any of you would like to be faster for a little while. There's some drawbacks once it wears off though."
<Kaeru> Would everyone roll perception for me, please?
<ArseneLupin> 4df+2
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: 5 (4df+2=+, 0, +, +)
<DSJ> 4df+2
<Glacon> DSJ: 3 (4df+2=0, -, +, +)
<Varren> 4df+3 <_<
<Glacon> Varren: <_<: 3 (4df+3=0, +, -, 0)
<War_> 4df+4 aa
<Glacon> War_: aa: 3 (4df+4=-, +, 0, -)
<Kaeru> Well, well. Even as focused as you are on the creature, you all notice something else. Across the substation, out of the corner of your eye- a flash. Not unlike the electrical flashes and sparks you've seen before, but not that same bright white- closer to a dull scarlet, gone in a split second.
<Kaeru> And following it, there is a series of arcs of bright electricity that seem drawn to where it had been.
<Soulless> 4df+5 perc
<Glacon> Soulless: perc: 6 (4df+5=+, 0, +, -)
<Kaeru> There's someone there. At the center of the electrical draw, a figure, wearing thin form-fitting armor not unlike foundation combat uniforms. But that's certainly not foundation.
<Varren> Oh so now it begins. Ezekiel stops his plan to shoot stuff and instead turns to look that way.
<Kaeru> He'd been on one knee, but stands slowly. He doesn't look at any of you, as if he doesn't even realize you're there, to spite you being in his sightlines. He looks straight at the creature.
<Kaeru> Straight at Gale.
<DSJ> "HEY, ASSHOLE, THIS IS OUR MISSING ALLY SLASH BAT-MAN-HYBRID, FUCK OFF."
<ArseneLupin> Stephen looks at this man with concern(tm)
<Varren> Ezekiel sighs and gets his Galil up. "Well….looks like we are gonna have to protect him I think." He starts of towards the figure. "Oye! You…identify yourself or I am gonna boot in your teeth."
<Varren> "I mean…hey…who are you?"
<Kaeru> He doesn't respond. Short-cropped black hair and sharp features, dark eyes illuminated by continuing arcs of electricity that jump from his surroundings to his skin. He seems unbothered by them.
<Kaeru> Each of you hear a popping crackle as radios and other electronics fizzle out of use.
<Kaeru> The power of the substation itself seems not to be effected.
<DSJ> Is he close enough to shoot?
<ArseneLupin> Stephen loads a dart. "I dont think he wants to talk."
<Varren> Ezekiel notes not to actually boot him in the face. And raises his voice. "Alright. Stop and get..back on your knees. I wont ask again."
<Kaeru> Clark, yes, he would be. He raises a hand halfway at his side and sparks jump to it. He snaps his fingers-
<Kaeru> roll d20 initiative.
<ArseneLupin> d20 Fite Nite
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: Fite Nite: 12 (d20=12)
<DSJ> d20 rip
<Glacon> DSJ: rip: 11 (d20=11)
<Soulless> d20 ohshit
<Glacon> Soulless: ohshit: 8 (d20=8)
<Varren> d20 lets….FIGHT
<Glacon> Varren: lets….FIGHT: 16 (d20=16)
<War_> d20 a ok
<Glacon> War_: a ok: 4 (d20=4)
<Kaeru> d20 "moth"
<Glacon> Kaeru: "moth": 12 (d20=12)
<Kaeru> d20 [???]
<Glacon> Kaeru: [???]: 3 (d20=3)
<Kaeru> Initiative is: Ezekiel, "Moth", Stephen, Clark, Joshua, Maddy, [???]. [???] gets one round at the top of initiative as a reactionary.
<ArseneLupin> .rem Initiative Ezekiel, "Moth", Stephen, Clark, Joshua, Maddy, [???]
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: forgetting "Initiative Hounds, Joshua, Ramos, Tanya, Wren, Moira", remembering this instead.
<Kaeru> 4df+5 spark
<Glacon> Kaeru: spark: 3 (4df+5=-, 0, -, 0)
<Kaeru> 4df+6 quick movement
<Glacon> Kaeru: quick movement: 8 (4df+6=+, -, +, +)
<Kaeru> At his snap, a flash of electricity jumps from a nearby cable like a lance at the creature. It leaps aside, and the attack hits hard against the stone in the rooftop where it had been standing.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you begin initiative.
<Kaeru> It's your turn.
<Varren> Ezekiel aims his Galil and fires off a round at this assholes fingers…he odd warn him
<Kaeru> Of note- since he arrived, the unknown person has been approaching the building to close his distance to the creature. He approaches at a walking pace, so he is still a decent distance away.
<Kaeru> Roll to hit, if you're attacking- or did you mean for a near miss?
<Varren> 4df+6 pew
<Glacon> Varren: pew: 8 (4df+6=+, 0, +, 0)
<Varren> Gonna try to shoot
<Kaeru> 4df+6 eyes on something else
<Glacon> Kaeru: eyes on something else: 6 (4df+6=+, -, -, +)
<Kaeru> He wasn't watching you, Ezekiel. Roll damage.
<Varren> 2d3 improved weapon
<Glacon> Varren: improved weapon: 3 (2d3=1, 2)
<Kaeru> You hit his arm, and he stops walking, taking a half-step back to stay stable. He stares at you, Ezek, surprised, but more irritated, inconvenienced.
<Kaeru> "I'd really prefer you didn't get in my way." His voice is accented lightly, and carries easily across the distance to be well-heard.
<Varren> "Too bad we are here." He makes no motion to stand down
<ArseneLupin> "Y-yeah! W-we're gonna protect Gale!"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen you would sound a lot cooler if you werent stuttering to hell
<Kaeru> The moth takes its turn to swoop over to a nearby supportive tower atop the roof, and wraps talons around it.
<DSJ> 4df+5 Clark takes a quick shot at the newcomer
<Glacon> DSJ: Clark takes a quick shot at the newcomer: 4 (4df+5=+, -, 0, -)
<Kaeru> It rips it from its hold to the rooftop and it snaps from the rest of the tower. Narrowed eyes, it holds it, defensive but not yet attacking.
<Kaeru> Clark- your turn is after Stephen. Stephen, would you like to use your turn before Clark, or wait it?
<ArseneLupin> Use it
<Kaeru> Go for it.
<DSJ> Oh damn, sorry
<Kaeru> np
<ArseneLupin> Stephen seems to pause and his eyes widen. "The cables! Clark! We need to shut off the power! This guy is drawing from it!"
<DSJ> "Again!?"
<DSJ> "Fucking hell, alright, I'll do it."
<Kaeru> Clark, roll ENG for knowledge for me.
<DSJ> 4df+6
<Glacon> DSJ: 2 (4df+6=-, -, -, -)
<DSJ> WOW OK
<Kaeru> rip. you have a RROTD- want to use it?
<DSJ> yep
<Kaeru> go for it.
<DSJ> 4df+6 fuck off glacon
<Glacon> DSJ: fuck off glacon: 6 (4df+6=-, +, +, -)
<Kaeru> there ya go
<Soulless> Does Joshua recognize this fucker? The name?
<Soulless> *the voice
<Kaeru> Clark, you know that you've shut off what you can inside already- the breaker room sustained a decent amount of damage. But you also know that damage to transformers could trigger a failsafe-based power loss. You also know that, almost always, substations have emergency breakers somewhere outside of the main breaker room.
<Kaeru> Joshua, no, you don't recognize him.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen raises his dart gun. "Need a speed boost? It wont last but it's something."
<DSJ> "Alriiiiight so, well, we can damage the transformers, or look for the emergency breakers."
<DSJ> "They'll both shut this asshole off."
<ArseneLupin> "Transformers seem a bit easier but might take longer, what do you guys think?"
<ArseneLupin> He loads up a Ranged Dart and decides to shoot Josh with it
<ArseneLupin> +2 Ranged for…
<Varren> "You guys work on that I will distract tall, dark, electric. And possibly a a model"
<ArseneLupin> 1d4+1 Rounds
<Soulless> "Ouch- why me?!"
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: Rounds: 3 (1d4+1=2)
<ArseneLupin> "Because you shoot the worst! No offense!"
<Soulless> "I'm a historian!"
<Soulless> "Boost someone that shoots better!"
<ArseneLupin> "I will! But you first so we can all be effective!"
<ArseneLupin> Turn
<Kaeru> The newcomer seems unphased by your chatter. He's focused on the creature.
<Kaeru> Clark, it's your turn.
<DSJ> Where would the breaker be, logically?
<Kaeru> Granted, I'll note. All of you know for a fact that turning off the power would mean you'd rely on moonlight alone for sight…
<Kaeru> Clark, it'd be connected to the breaker room, so near to that side of the building, probably.
<Kaeru> It'd be fairly easy to spot, but from where you are, that side of the building is out of sight.
<ArseneLupin> You know I think I prefer that to extra crispy
<DSJ> Well… Clark runs for the probable breaker.
<Kaeru> Clark, you run for the other side of the building and find that you're not far from what you'd guess to be a breaker box. Roll ACRO, though.
<DSJ> 4df+5 wheee
<Glacon> DSJ: wheee: 3 (4df+5=-, -, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> 4df+5 snap
<Glacon> Kaeru: snap: 3 (4df+5=-, 0, 0, -)
<Kaeru> Since it was a reactionary, I'll give the tie to you. Clark, an arc of electricity flashes through the air- you sidestep and it cracks the ground beside your feet.
<Kaeru> It leaves you only with a feeling of charge through the air as it misses narrowly.
<DSJ> He's glad for the dodge. Is the breaker there?
<Kaeru> It is!
<DSJ> Well, in that case, he pull
<Kaeru> You throw open the doors to the breaker box. Three levers, with you pull, plunge the substation into darkness.
<Kaeru> As your eyes all adjust to the dim moonlight, there's a trilling screech, and a flash of movement as the creature darts upwards to a tower at the very corner of the substation. It looks out, across the field, away from the substation, but remains where it is.
<Kaeru> Joshua, it's your turn.
<ArseneLupin> Is the man still sparking?
<Kaeru> He is- less so, but curls of electricity flicker and spark around him with no real source.
<Soulless> Can I use Insight as a free actions to understand WTF this guy's doing, motivations, etc
<Soulless> any wya to maybe convince him to not
<Kaeru> Joshua, you can.
<Soulless> 4df+5 insight to deeply understand this stranger
<Glacon> Soulless: insight to deeply understand this stranger: 4 (4df+5=0, -, +, -)
<Kaeru> He's difficult to read. It's clear he's here for the creature, and he has little interest in any of you- to the point of near ignoring you unless you're in his way. Something else occurs to you, too.
<Kaeru> As soon as he'd arrived, power jumped to him. Since it's off, that no longer happens- and he still is surrounded by a sort of aura of occasional sparks and flashes. But perhaps it's a matter of resource- of charge. Like a battery that was beginning to power when he arrived.
<Soulless> "He's still charged up, guys."
<Soulless> 4df+6 Joshua fires a shot. "Stop and talk to us!" A warning shot, still. Somewhere nonlethal at least. Maybe a hand or a leg.
<Glacon> Soulless: Joshua fires a shot. "Stop and talk to us!" A warning shot, still. Somewhere nonlethal at least. Maybe a hand or a leg.: 5 (4df+6=-, -, +, 0)
<Kaeru> You may also notice, Joshua, that his gaze followed the creature as it retreated to a far corner of the substation- but then it changed. He watches Clark, with a determined and unwavering gaze.
<Kaeru> 4df+6 focus
<Glacon> Kaeru: focus: 6 (4df+6=-, +, +, -)
<Soulless> "Clark- watch it- "
<Kaeru> He easily turns slightly to the side, still walking, and your shot narrowly misses.
<Soulless> He moves to position himself into the man's walking path.
<Soulless> End turn.
<DSJ|Mobile> "Aw, sad that I figured out how to get rid of your advantage- keep coming, dickhole, I'll cut you outta that armor real easily."
<ArseneLupin> "I mean I suggested it so I'd like to think it was a team effort…" Stephen mumbled
<Kaeru> Maddy, you're up.
<Varren> (I think they are slep)
<Kaeru> In that case, I'll skip them for now, and write them in if they get back.
<Kaeru> [???] is next in the order. He continues walking, a pace without urgency, towards Clark. Towards the breakers, perhaps- who knows?
<Kaeru> He raises a hand at his side. Clark, roll ACRO.
<DSJ|Mobile> 4df+5 dodg
<Glacon> DSJ|Mobile: dodg: 3 (4df+5=+, -, -, -)
<Kaeru> 4df+5 "You damn idiots-"
<Glacon> Kaeru: "You damn idiots-": 2 (4df+5=-, -, -, 0)
<DSJ|Mobile> haaaa
<ArseneLupin> (Well we're idiots who are rolling better than you)
<Kaeru> Clark, you sidestep as a flash of electricity surrounding the man lances towards you and cracks the ground nearby. "We'll lose the damn thing, do you want it loose?!"
<Kaeru> Frustration in his voice, irritability.
<Kaeru> You realize the moth isn't as close by anymore.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, it's your turn.
<Varren> "Why do you even want it? And what's this we shit?"
<DSJ|Mobile> "Buddy, you're not making any kind of a goddamn case for yourself with your fuckin' Emperor hands."
<Kaeru> "It doesn't belong here," he snaps.
<Varren> Ezekiel will just shoot the guy in the leg
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, roll away
<Varren> "Explain it to us then!"
<Varren> 4df+6 as he tries violent negotiations
<Glacon> Varren: as he tries violent negotiations: 7 (4df+6=+, 0, +, -)
<Kaeru> 4df+6 focus
<Glacon> Kaeru: focus: 3 (4df+6=-, -, -, 0)
<Kaeru> Roll damage, ezekiel.
<Varren> 2d3
<Glacon> Varren: 6 (2d3=3, 3)
<Varren> Bam!
<Kaeru> He's distracted, focused in. Your shot connects and his pace falters. You know for a damn fact that should've taken him down.
<Kaeru> Thing is, it didn't.
<Varren> Is there a battery on him like the Energizer bunny?
<Kaeru> His gaze turns to you, eyes narrow with a cool sort of anger. Half doubled over, he raises a hand, palm out facing towards you-
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, roll ACRO- RES does not apply.
<Varren> 4df+6 bitch please
<Glacon> Varren: bitch please: 9 (4df+6=+, 0, +, +)
<Kaeru> 4df+8 directed fury
<Glacon> Kaeru: directed fury: 5 (4df+8=-, -, 0, -)
<ArseneLupin> (Does Mr. Sparky here need a RROTD?)
<Kaeru> (go off)
<ArseneLupin> (:P)
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, he raises his hand and you stare into a growing light at the center of his palm. You have the sense to jump out of the way- a shot like a bolt of lightning lances past you and blows a hole straight through the wireframe fence on the other side of the station.
<Soulless> "Could you please just talk with us?"
<Varren> "Holy f-oh! You have no manner of luck man!"
<Varren> "Joshua he seems a little angry for chatting."
<Varren> "Did almost crisp me there…"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen lets out a loud eep! "C-can w-we n-not negotiate with t-the man s-shooting holes through fences!"
<Kaeru> He spins to Joshua. "And let it get away? I doubt that."
<DSJ|Mobile> "It's getting away because of you, asshole!"
<DSJ|Mobile> "Hell, it's not even an it! They're a person, I think?"
<Kaeru> To Clark- "Move! I have a job to do, and that thing has no need to be here if the damn power's off."
<Kaeru> "I don't intend to leave here empty-handed, agent."
<DSJ|Mobile> "No. Way I see it, you owe us an actual explanation before we do shit. And if you disagree, then… well, maybe you'd like a containment cell, who knows."
<Kaeru> It occurs to you all the moth is, in fact, nowhere to be seen. As such, Stephen, your turn is next.
<ArseneLupin> …so
<ArseneLupin> Going out on a limb here
<ArseneLupin> The direction Gale was facing when the power went off
<ArseneLupin> Would we know if that's the direction of the nearest city?
<Kaeru> You'd know, yes. You have a fairly good idea of the area from diagrams from the briefing.
<Soulless> "It? No, that's a person!"
<Kaeru> As a matter of fact, it was that direction.
<ArseneLupin> Had a feeling
<ArseneLupin> Can I roll logic to figure out if turning the power back on would attract it back?
<ArseneLupin> Wait
<ArseneLupin> My logic is shit
<Kaeru> Stephen can roll any INT or EDU based skill to figure that one out.
<ArseneLupin> Oh.
<ArseneLupin> 4df+6 I have many of those
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: I have many of those: 8 (4df+6=0, 0, +, +)
<Kaeru> It's not exactly a tough problem, with what the newcomer has been saying and pure logic alone. So long as it hasn't gotten very far, turning the power back on- it'd be like flipping back on a magnet.
<Kaeru> In theory.
<ArseneLupin> "You're right we dont want it loose! So we're gonna kick your ass and flip the power back on once you're not an issue!" He loads up a Ranged dart. "Clark you want some help with that?"
<Kaeru> Stephen, your logic is sound- or, it would be, if you weren't aware of how quickly the "moth" can move. You'd need more time.
<DSJ|Mobile> "Sure, I'll take it."
<ArseneLupin> He says this and then the logic voice in his head starts talking
<ArseneLupin> "Guys I know this is gonna look dumb but I'm sorry!" He runs for the breakers
<Kaeru> [???] half-raises a hand as if to stop you, Stephen, but doesn't, a vague interest in his expression. You make it to the breaker box.
<ArseneLupin> He flips it back on. "We gotta keep Gale from escaping!"
<DSJ|Mobile> How close is the guy to Clark, and would it be an ENG roll to plasma torch his suit up for the purposes of dismantling it
<Kaeru> His armor isn't any heavier than yours, Clark- body armor, light and meant for maneuverability. It's not far off foundation combat armor, but a bit lighter.
<Soulless> His eyes close.
<Varren> Ezekiel shields his eyes as well
<ArseneLupin> Stephen too
<Kaeru> You can, of course, try- Clark, he's only maybe ten feet from you.
<Soulless> He debates doing The Thing.
<Kaeru> Stephen, do you attempt to reactivate the breakers?
<DSJ|Mobile> Then he will on his turm, because that'll probably help.
<ArseneLupin> Yes he does
<Kaeru> If so, Clark, you're there too- you, I assume, let him?
<DSJ|Mobile> Sure.
<Kaeru> Stephen. You throw the breakers back to active, and lights glare in your eyes. You get a much clearer view of the man, close to you and in brighter light. His eyes seem to spark yellow across black irises as the power reengages.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen just lets out a squeak
<Kaeru> He looks at you, Stephen, with no anger in his eyes. He gives a nod and raises a hand high above him. Power arcs from several of the towers to his palm before he lowers it forcefully towards the ground.
<Kaeru> The power goes with it. It curls downward and into the ground below him, coming unsettlingly close but not hitting Clark or Stephen.
<Kaeru> That wasn't the intention. The impact allows him to leap into the air, carried by the force of the strike, landing easily on the roof of the building.
<Kaeru> He looks out across the substation and watches as the moth comes back into view on the tree line nearby.
<Kaeru> Clark, your turn.
<DSJ|Mobile> Well, the guy is on the roof, and attacking has done nothing, so…
<DSJ|Mobile> 4df+6 ENG he tries to suss out the tech behind the armor instead
<Glacon> DSJ|Mobile: ENG he tries to suss out the tech behind the armor instead: 8 (4df+6=-, +, +, +)
<Kaeru> Attacking definitely has done damage, even if he's been not entirely bothered by it so far.
<Kaeru> Clark, his armor is- surprisingly simple, thin. It's not technical. Whatever he can do, it's not because of his armor that he can to it.
<Soulless> "Hey guys, do we need a trump card? I got one but I don't know if we wanna use it."
<Soulless> "I can- call for help."
<DSJ|Mobile> "God- yes, fucking do it."
<ArseneLupin> "Josh what the hell are you talking about? No let's find out what it is first before agreeing."
<Soulless> "I'm going to call for help from someone big, who can help us, but they're anomalous, which is why I can call them. They're an ally."
<ArseneLupin> "…And where did you get this from?!"
<Varren> "Hey! Dont try to out show me with someone else!"
<Soulless> "It was that bullshit I don't talk about!"
<ArseneLupin> "Maybe wait on that and see if we cant fix this ourselves first! Things go to shit use it!"
<Soulless> "OK let me know when things go to shit!"
<Soulless> Joshua remains stalwart. Who's turn up?
<Kaeru> Joshua, it's yours, actually.
<Varren> "Pretty sure we are still in the being chewed stage"
<Soulless> 4df+6 he shoots
<Glacon> Soulless: he shoots: 6 (4df+6=0, 0, +, -)
<Soulless> actually redact
<Soulless> actuially no
<Soulless> he shoot
<Kaeru> aight cool
<Kaeru> 4df+8 bad angle
<Glacon> Kaeru: bad angle: 8 (4df+8=-, +, 0, 0)
<Soulless> Rip
<Kaeru> On the roof as he is, it's hard to get a good shot off on the man.
<Soulless> Very well.
<Kaeru> It's [???]'s turn. Fortunately for you, Joshua, he's focused on the returning shape in the sky, currently landing on one of the towers across the station.
<Kaeru> Unfortunately, he gets a clear shot on it as it lands. A hand raises, palm out.
<Kaeru> 4df+6 lightning rod
<Glacon> Kaeru: lightning rod: 8 (4df+6=+, +, +, -)
<Soulless> "NO"
<Kaeru> The same power Ezekiel was able to dodge sends a flashing bolt across the substation towards the creature.
<Kaeru> It may be fast, but it isn't fast enough. The strike tosses it like a child's toy from its perch.
<Kaeru> It catches itself somewhat on its wings, lessening the fall, but hits the ground nonetheless, and struggles to get back up.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, it's your turn.
<Varren> Ezekiel moves between model fuck and GaleBat. As a human shield and fires off a run at the mans gut. If it wont stop him it will make thing very uncomfortable hopefully
<Varren> 4df+6 pew
<Glacon> Varren: pew: 6 (4df+6=0, 0, +, -)
<Kaeru> Unfortunately, the man is at an elevation. You can still take a shot, and get fairly well between him and the "moth" since the moth is on the ground, though.
<Kaeru> 4df+6 [???]
<Glacon> Kaeru: [???]: 7 (4df+6=+, -, 0, +)
<Kaeru> He sees you as you step between him and his target. He steps to the side to avoid the shot, hopping down effortlessly from the rooftop.
<Kaeru> Gale, on his turn, makes a small noise and struggles to regain his feet.
<Kaeru> 4df+3
<Glacon> Kaeru: 3 (4df+3=0, +, -, 0)
<Kaeru> he doesn't manage to, remaining low to the ground.
<Kaeru> As such- Stephen, it's your turn.
<ArseneLupin> He clenches his fists and runs over to Gale to try and Medical him back up
<Kaeru> He looks at you with wide, scared eyes as you approach, but isn't able to move well enough to get away from you.
<ArseneLupin> To heal him up medical dice or a med roll?
<Kaeru> You can attempt to help him, but you can't be sure he won't react poorly. Do you take that chance?
<ArseneLupin> I'm taking it
<Kaeru> Roll.
<ArseneLupin> "Shhh, it's alright, I'm trying to help you. If you hurt me I wont be mad though."
<Kaeru> Med roll, that is, to see if you can even manage it.
<ArseneLupin> 4df+6
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: 7 (4df+6=0, +, 0, 0)
<Kaeru> It isn't exactly human. But it isn't exactly inhuman, either. Scorching damage covers a jagged circle on its chest. You can roll med dice to help it, yes.
<ArseneLupin> 1d4 I'm here to help
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: I'm here to help: 1 (1d4=1)
<Soulless> "IS IT TITS UP YET."
<ArseneLupin> Fuck it
<ArseneLupin> RROTD
<ArseneLupin> 1d4
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: 3 (1d4=3)
<ArseneLupin> "NO!"
<Varren> "Nope!"
<Soulless> "LOOKS PRETTY FUCKED TO ME.\"
<Varren> "Someone offer him money before he get to me!-THIS isnt fuck Joshua, fucked is when I am in two pieces!"
<Kaeru> His hand snaps up to your arm, Stephen, as if to hurt you, and you can see damage to the wing beneath. But he seems to realize what you're doing- his eyes, he recognizes you- and talons hold to but don't pierce your skin.
<Kaeru> Clark, you're up.
<ArseneLupin> He tries his best to comfort him as he works
<DSJ|Mobile> How close is the switch? Mothfriend is down
<DSJ|Mobile> aftera
<DSJ|Mobile> *after all.
<Kaeru> Within a few feet of you, Clark.
<DSJ|Mobile> Then he flips it again, and breaks it to prevent further flipping
<Kaeru> Darkness falls. After a split second of nothing, your eyes begin to adjust, and the first thing any of you see is the aura of power surrounding the man.
<ArseneLupin> Quick question, would Stephen be able to guess if Gale could still fly with the damage he took?
<Kaeru> He could guess, sure.
<Kaeru> That'd be a solid yes, but it would be in no way fun for the flyer, and would probably increase the extent of the damage.
<Kaeru> [???]'s shoulders rise in frustration. He swears in another language and stomps a foot into the ground beneath his feet. Power crackles through the concrete towards the lighting equipment around the substation and all at once, they surge back to life, illuminating the area. The rest of the station remains inactive.
<Kaeru> He hadn't reactivated the power- if anything, he'd used his own power to, well, turn on the lights.
<Soulless> "Ah, fuck."
<Kaeru> Joshua, your turn.
<Soulless> 4df+6 he tries to shoot a light out. "Can we talk before you kill our friend?"
<Glacon> Soulless: he tries to shoot a light out. "Can we talk before you kill our friend?": 6 (4df+6=-, -, +, +)
<Soulless> (that's his last +2)
<Kaeru> The aura around the man is fainter than it's been before.
<Kaeru> Joshua, you hit a light and glass shatters. You cast a portion of the station into shadow.
<Soulless> He begins to try and take Gale into that portion.
<Kaeru> Gale isn't far from it, and since Stephen is also with him and can assist, you manage this fairly easily.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is sticking close even after this
<ArseneLupin> Trying to keep between Gale and ???
<Kaeru> It seems panicky, afraid, but it doesn't actively try to resist as you guide him to the darker area.
<Kaeru> Unfortunately, it's [???]'s turn. And this means that you are both extremely close to his target.
<Varren> Ezekiel is still there between as well!
<Kaeru> He raises a hand beside him, looks at the palm, then locks it in a fist and looks back up to his target. Any of you can attempt to get in the way of any attacks against the Moth, if you wish.
<ArseneLupin> I'm good to get in the way, anyone want to more?
<ArseneLupin> I'm 100% okay with taking the hit though
<Soulless> Joshua also moves to take the hit.
<Varren> Ezekiel will let the human shield take the hit
<Kaeru> Since RES does not apply to this defense, sacrificing ACRO would guarantee taking the full force of whatever the man throws at you. Do you still wish to try?
<Soulless> Joshua will do this, yes.
<ArseneLupin> Alright if just one person is needed I'll let Josh take it then
<Kaeru> Joshua, you face down the man as he flicks his hand at his side and sends a flash of light in your direction.
<Kaeru> 2d2+1
<Glacon> Kaeru: 4 (2d2+1=1, 2)
<Kaeru> The hit connects, hitting the center of your chest. For a moment you feel lucky that whatever more powerful attack he'd used against the moth was not what he'd done to you. But even so, the blow knocks you back into the bottom of a nearby tower.
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, it's your turn.
<ArseneLupin> Does his aura weaken?
<Kaeru> It does, actually, noticeably.
<Varren> Ezekiel makes sure to stay between [???] And GaleBat. As he aims down sight and fires at his target "just give up already!"
<Varren> 4df+6
<Glacon> Varren: 6 (4df+6=-, 0, 0, +)
<Kaeru> 4df+6
<Glacon> Kaeru: 5 (4df+6=-, +, 0, -)
<Kaeru> You hit his shoulder. Roll damage.
<Varren> 2d3 damage
<Glacon> Varren: damage: 4 (2d3=3, 1)
<Kaeru> He swears, gripping his shoulder for a moment before letting go to raise his hand as if preparing to strike back. And he does- but you don't get the chance to try to dodge.
<Kaeru> Instead, a weight hits your side and pulls you to the ground, clear of the slash of power through the air. Black, brittle fur and battered wings above you.
<Kaeru> After a moment, it's moved, turning its attention towards [???].
<Kaeru> Stephen, you're up. You'd barely seen it move- but now it crouches, ready, in front of the man with crackling yellow eyes.
<Varren> Ezekiel blinks from the ground, having squawked and flailed when he was tackled over. "God dammit BatGale, we are protecting you!"
<Kaeru> At the moment, it seems to think otherwise.
<Kaeru> Stephen, make your move. The choice is yours.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen pulls out his dart gun. Gale attacks with Melee it seems correct?
<Kaeru> Yep.
<ArseneLupin> Fuck it, cool factor
<ArseneLupin> He loads a Melee dart.
<ArseneLupin> "Give him hell Gale." He shoots him
<ArseneLupin> +2 Melee for
<ArseneLupin> 1d4+1 Rounds
<Glacon> ArseneLupin: Rounds: 4 (1d4+1=3)
<Kaeru> His head snaps to look at you, eyes wide, but go back after a moment to the man in front of him. A piercing trill and the creature launches itself at him.
<Kaeru> It dodges out of the way of a small arc of power from his fingertips and crashes into him, carrying him with a slight flap of its wings for the extra speed it grants it into the wall of the building. Glass windows crack and it holds the man using clawed hands on either side of his ribcage.
<Soulless> "Stephen what the fuck!"
<Kaeru> And it does something rather unexpected.
<ArseneLupin> "Gale wants to fight, so lets let him fight well."
<Kaeru> It bares a wide mouth of needle-sharp teeth. Practically growls at the pinned man in front of it and pulls him towards itself to sink teeth into where the top of his shoulder meets his neck.
<Varren> "Oh god it's a vampire bat!"
<Soulless> Joshua tries to pull Gale off the guy.
<ArseneLupin> "Joshua leave him! He's helping!'
<Varren> "Vampire….moth? I dont even know anymore"
<Kaeru> It clings to its target for several moments to spite his struggles to free himself, but after a moment the man puts his hands flat against Gale's chest and hisses at him. "Fuck you, fade," he growls, and a growing light beneath his hands stands out against black fur.
<Kaeru> Joshua, you're too far. You'd need more time to get all the way to him.
<Soulless> Joshua is running!
<Kaeru> It's across the substation from you, but you can try to make it. Roll athletics
<Soulless> "NOW?"
<Soulless> 4df no athletics wow
<Glacon> Soulless: no athletics wow: -2 (4df=-, 0, 0, -)
<Soulless> rip
<Kaeru> Joshua, you can see the man's palms against the creature's chest. You can see the rising glow beneath them-
<Kaeru> You won't make it. Not nearly.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen stays quiet
<Soulless> "STEPHEN HES GONNA KILL HIM"
<Varren> Is Ezekiel close enough?
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you're a decent ways as well, but significantly less. You are, however, not upright. You can try, but it's unlikely.
<ArseneLupin> Can Stephen possibly shoot an ATH dart to try and help Ezek here?
<Kaeru> Joshua, you're not sure how much damage whatever he's charging up will to to the creature. It could do nothing- it could punch a hole through its chest. But you know you need more time.
<Kaeru> Stephen, not enough time. You won't get the chance
<Varren> 4df+2 hope for a hail marr
<Glacon> Varren: hope for a hail marr: 1 (4df+2=-, 0, -, +)
<ArseneLupin> "FUCK DO IT!"
<Varren> Nop
<Kaeru> Ezekiel, you scramble to your feet, but you won't get there, either. Not fast enough.
<Soulless> "Ananse please help me- the host of the Moth is in danger and I don't want him to die- I don't know who is killing him and I want to find out- PLEASE I WILL GIVE YOU MY NAME-"
<Soulless> Joshua hopes this is not too late and he RUN
<Kaeru> The rest of you hear none of this.
<Kaeru> Shadow falls over the substation like a cloud over the sun, to spite the light coming from many sources.
<Kaeru> Massive hands from nowhere that strain and crush pieces of the towers. Too many hands. Four, five- and a body that looms high, face a blank oval of darkness and swimming stars, massive above the scene.
<ArseneLupin> Do we /see/ this?
<Kaeru> You do. You all do.
<ArseneLupin> "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!!!????"
<Varren> "You called….that!? Josh, what the fucknis you day job!?"
<ArseneLupin> His voice is fear and amazement. Mostly fear
<Soulless> "Same as yours! Fuck! Hello! Where's Gale? Where's the stranger?!"
<Kaeru> One of its hands moves almost gently between the creature and the man, pulling the moth towards itself in a cupped palm.
<Kaeru> It holds Gale in a flat hand, raised and away from his attacker.
<Varren> Ezekiel swaps to covering from whatever this is. "Fucking….dont call gods into rural fucking areas. Or whatever this is…this is not okay on A LOT OF LEVELS"
<Kaeru> The stranger stares up into its face, and the monster stares back.
<ArseneLupin> "I… did not think this was what you meant…" Full fear now
<Kaeru> He looks at Joshua with horror in his eyes. "You don't know what you've done," he says in a voice almost too quiet to hear.
<Soulless> "…"
<Soulless> "I told you we should talk." He says back to the stranger.
<Soulless> "You didn't listen…"
<Soulless> "What the fuck have I done, stranger?"
<Kaeru> "Dammit-" he raises a hand as if to attempt to attack the giant creature, but some unseen force tosses him like a ragdoll to the side.
<Soulless> "Don't hurt him! Christ."
<Soulless> "I just want- to fucking know what's going on-"
<Soulless> Joshua looks scared, but also pissed.
<Kaeru> He scrambles to his feet and backs away a few steps. He seems torn of what to do for a moment, eyes flicking between the swirling, blurring stars on the thing's face.
<Kaeru> He makes a decision. "Rift!" He stands straight and only has to wait for a half moment before the same red flash that had brought him there appears again behind him like a doorway out.
<Varren> "I dont think this is a think you can tell what to do Joshua. " Ezekiel is being very careful and staying right next to an electrical equipment thingy…gltrying to give off vibes of 'don't eat me'
<ArseneLupin> Stephen turns to look at the stranger and the rift
<Kaeru> The stranger gives one last look, eyes flicking between all of you, meeting your gaze, Stephen, for a moment. And then he turns and quickly steps into the red.
<Soulless> "Don't let him go-"
<Kaeru> The rift doesn't close behind him. You see him stop, only a step beyond the doorway. You can see a massive hand, familiar in its appearance, slam into the ground in front of him on the other side of the rift.
<Kaeru> The rift closes, and with it your view.
<Varren> Ezekiel blinks after that and just whispers "what. The fuck…."
<Kaeru> You all hear a strange humming, like putting your ear near a generator. But the sound surrounds you, seems to echo in your minds.
<Soulless> "…Is he- is he ok-"
<ArseneLupin> Stephen covers his ears and whimpers, not that it will do any good
<Kaeru> It gives you a headache, which is only redoubled when you try to look at the shifting, blurring stars on the face of the creature.
<Kaeru> It looks to Joshua, leaning closer to the ground to look at him. When it speaks, it speaks in a voice that whispers, an all-consuming echo from nowhere and everywhere at once.
<Kaeru> This one promised its assistance if it were called.
<Kaeru> What is it the Speaker desires of it?
<Varren> Ezekiel is immediately hit with a massive migraine l. His susceptibility to them not helping after the trigger of the humming. He holds his head and screws his eyes closed
<Soulless> "You- you did enough. Can we get the host to the Moth, and the guy- the hunter? Tied up and- and we'll bring them back to our site."
<Soulless> Joshua clutched his ears. "Holy fuck."
<Soulless> "I am so sorry I should've made a bigger warning."
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is just curled up on the ground
<Kaeru> The spider- your minds assign it this name, though you're unsure why- looks to the figure in one of its hands. Tilts its head slightly as Gale stares back at it.
<Kaeru> And it does something that causes panic to take hold in your chest. It curls that three-fingered hand into a fist.
<Kaeru> But there's no sound. Nothing to suggest what would be assumed.
<Soulless> Joshua is freaaaaking out.
<Kaeru> And it lowers the hand to the ground and slowly uncurls its fingers. And what is in its palm is not what was expected, but it isn't the moth, either.
<Kaeru> It looks like Julian.
<Kaeru> And he falls to his knees and to the ground once set down by the spider.
<Varren> Ezekiel has mo idea who that is and he is still freaking out about the Spider issue
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is still a whimpering mess so he doesnt even see this
<Kaeru> The spider turns its face slowly to face Joshua. The stars swim and twist, distorting the world. For what reason does the Speaker request the Hunter?
<Soulless> "Just… here. " He offers some rope. "We contain- we contain things- and I want to- to ask what the he's doing- why- yeah."
<Soulless> He ties up Julian with some rope, trying not to have a panic attack.
<Soulless> "This is, uh, this- yeah- he's related to them- I don't know why-"
<Kaeru> There's a moment of silence from it. You notice something a bit off about Gale, but can't quite place it immediately.
<Kaeru> … The Hunter will come.
<Kaeru> Speaker. It moves a hand almost gently to hover just above the ground next to you, Joshua. Palm up.
<Soulless> Joshua puts a hand on a finger. "Cool… Good to know… Eze… Stephen- can you check up on Gale? Please?"
<ArseneLupin> At his name Stephen uncurls a little and crawls over to Gale to look
<ArseneLupin> Still scared shitless
<Kaeru> You find, Joshua, there's something in your hand. It's made of- glass? No, not quite. It swims, like smoke, but reflective like darkened glass, and keeps shape near to a sphere.
<Soulless> Joshua tries to look inside. "What's this?"
<Kaeru> Joshua, you stare into the smoke and see yourself. Moments, memories, not from your eyes but as though from someone watching from nearby.
<Kaeru> Fragments, snipits, like pictures.
<Kaeru> But not entirely still.
<Soulless> "/What is this/"
<Kaeru> Stephen, you go to Gale. He's as you remember him, when you'd met him.
<Kaeru> This is a call. What the Speaker holds is what it promised.
<Kaeru> Stephen, but something's strange. Three black dots, in a triangle, on his chest just below his collarbone, visible under a not-fully-buttoned shirt. Black not just in color, but in the same way the spider's face is, dark and undefinable.
<ArseneLupin> He will definitely find that extremely concerning later when he's not moments away from shitting himself
<Kaeru> Joshua, the spider waits. Its stare is withering, and flecks of light twist and distort on its face.
<Kaeru> Stephen, otherwise, he seems entirely unharmed.
<ArseneLupin> That's his main concern so he's gonna scramble away from The Spider with Julian in tow
<Kaeru> Stephen, he isn't awake, at least not yet. Do you pull him away from the spider anyway?
<ArseneLupin> Y-yes? Unless something stops him or gives him reason not to
<Varren> Ezek staggers up and shakily heads over. He has resigned to just ignore everything he can for the moment. He holds one hand to his head and helps Stephen however he can
<Kaeru> The two of you are easily able to pull Gale away. You know that the spider's reach is too long to get him completely out of dodge, but you feel better about the increased distance nonetheless.
<ArseneLupin> Yeah it's more for comfort than actual safety
<Kaeru> The hum lessens just slightly in your minds as you distance yourself. But you can look back to see the creature with its massive face of shifting stars staring down your teammate. You can't see anything in Joshua's hand.
<Soulless> Joshua looks at it. "…Is this my call?"
<Kaeru> The spider nods.
<Varren> "S-stepehn…" Ezekiel looks at this scene. "Trust me when I say…never summon something that is or fancies itself a god…it never goes your way in the end."
<ArseneLupin> Stephen definitely seems to calm a bit at the distance. Not a lot but it's something. He nods shakily. "Y-y-y-yeah… I-I would n-not have a-agreed if I k-knew this w-was coming…"
<Kaeru> When you speak, Ezekiel, the creature's face swings slowly to look to you. It stares for a few moments before turning back to Joshua. It speaks in the whisper you can all hear. The Speaker's companions compare this one to gods, it states, almost curiously. If it were not harmful to the Speaker and the others for this one to remain, it would inquire- does the Speaker think this one is a god?
<Soulless> "Is this- do you have it now? My call? How do you even call me with this?"
<Soulless> "This isn't a /name/."
<Kaeru> It looks back over at Stephen and Ezekiel, and poses a question that's more directed at Joshua even so. How does one define a god? Is it power, perhaps? Knowledge? It turns back. This one will ask this of the echoes when it departs.
<Kaeru> Calls are not names, Speaker.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen whimpers more
<Kaeru> The Speaker's companions are harmed by this one's presence. Once the Speaker gives what it owes, this one will return to where it belongs, and will summon in its place the Hunter if the Speaker so desires.
<Soulless> "You have my call." Joshua offers it over.
<Soulless> "How do you… call me?"
<Varren> Ezekiel doesnt look away but he withers when it looks, slumping a little. "Hard to say…gods are gods..or they arent and think they are..or people think they are.." Ezekiel goes back to holding his head tight, persistent migraine more than the other stuff.
<Kaeru> It takes it from him between careful fingers. The Speaker will know when it is called.
<Soulless> "OK."
<Soulless> "I'm sorry guys I'm trying to wrap this up oh god"
<Kaeru> Does the Speaker wish to speak with the Hunter still?
<Soulless> "Yeah! We can do it- at home- at our site. OK? Cause we gotta- we gotta go."
<Soulless> "I want the Hunter to come with us."
<Soulless> "Containment."
<Kaeru> Its many hands- none of you are sure just how many, the number seems to change- rise from the ground to grip higher along the towers of the substation. It will be so.
<Soulless> "Holy fuck-"
<Kaeru> And it seems to disappear into a tear in the world, hands carrying it back to wherever it came from. And when it's gone, the hum ceases.
<Kaeru> The world comes back into focus, ceases to swim or distort like water around you. You feel like you can breathe.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen calms a little more. "J-j-j-j-joshua… w-w-we a-are n-n-never u-using a-any t-trump c-card a-again…"
<Soulless> Joshua looks for Hunter.
<Kaeru> Joshua, your moment of calm is short. You see, in place of the monstrosity that had been there moments before, a familiar figure with his hands behind his back.
<Soulless> He looks to Stephen, sheepish. "I'm /so/ sorry- hi!"
<Soulless> Joshua rushes over.
<Soulless> "Hey we got the job done!"
<Kaeru> He blinks pale eyes at you. "Greetings, Speaker," he replies calmly. "I see this."
<ArseneLupin> "P-politely… f-f-fuck you."
<ArseneLupin> To Josh
<Kaeru> When you speak, Stephen, you see the pale eyes of the man in front of Joshua turn to you. They're calm eyes, cool and kind, comforting somehow. You feel almost mournful when they turn back to Joshua.
<Varren> Ezekiel is still migraine suffering but he is able to just rub with bridge of his nose in frustration "I dont want to know what it was or what it does. I am not getting involved it this…and I vote we cut losses and get the fuck out."
<Soulless> "Yep, 100% agreed, let's go. With them."
<ArseneLupin> He nods fast. "Y-y-yeah."
<Varren> "Agreed…"
<Kaeru> He nods, a half-bow, to Joshua. "I must ask. What is it you hope to accomplish, requesting I accompany you?"
<Soulless> Joshua calls containment. "I just- we're the Foundation. We contain anomalies like you. And Gale."
<Kaeru> Stephen, Ezekiel. You see the man Joshua speaks to, even if you're unsure where he came from. He's tall, with deep brown skin contrasting against unnaturally lightly-colored eyes. He wears a perfectly ironed black suit and vest, a navy blue tie offering the only color in the outfit aside from the lighter colors on the lower layers of the suit. Thin black lines, perhaps tattoos, trace from the corners of his lips to the tops of his jaw, and a
<Kaeru> similar line is drawn down the center of his lower lip and continues under his chin.
<Kaeru> He considers what Joshua says. "I will make you aware that it is unlikely any attempt to keep me against my will will succeed," he states simply. "However, I plan to come freely. If we are civilized, I do not believe this will be relevant."
<Soulless> "…You're, uh. Not the guy who was hunting."
<Soulless> "We'll get to this later. Come on."
<Soulless> (for clarity: is this orion)
<Kaeru> Yes, it is. He tips his head to one side. Considers this.
<Soulless> Joshua pretends not to know Orion.
<Soulless> Joshua sucks at this.
<Soulless> He's called containment to come, whenever containment wants.
<Kaeru> "Ah," he says after a moment, straightening up. "You asked, you see, for the hunter." He smiles faintly. "Are you aware of the mythos behind the name Ori'on?" (apostrophe so we dont ping a friend)
<Soulless> 4df+5 history
<Glacon> Soulless: history: 6 (4df+5=+, 0, 0, 0)
<ArseneLupin> "T-t-the hunter in greek Mythology who fell in l-love with Artemis… right?"
<Soulless> "Oh fuck. Oh hell." He puts his face to his hands.
<Kaeru> In mythology, Ori'on was a huntsman placed among the stars by Zeus.
<Soulless> "I'm so sorry, man."
<Kaeru> Hunter. By using this description, Joshua realizes it's likely he found the phrase used by the spider to refer to him.
<Soulless> "I was meaning this armored fellow trying to kill Gale."
<Kaeru> He smiles faintly, kindly. "Yes, I understand. You have no need for apology. I would aid in what you intended to request, but I'm afraid I cannot."
<Soulless> "Guys, this is Orion. Let's. Let's go home. Is Gale gonna survive?"
<ArseneLupin> "H-he should…"
<Soulless> "OK. Let's. Go. /home/."
<Kaeru> He nods that same formal nod. "Your friend is free of all but a thin connection to us. He is in no further danger."
<Soulless> Joshua waits for containment, and tries not to talk to Orion, focuses on Gale. He will have Words later.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen stays curled up in a ball, not as tight as before
<Soulless> He goes to pat Stephen.
<ArseneLupin> He clings to Joshua at that, really just seeming like the guy needs a hug
<Varren> "You do realize we have co contain them both…yes?"
<Soulless> He hugs.
<Soulless> "Yeah, I do. That's why I called containment."
<Soulless> "They should be coming aaaaany minute now…"
<Kaeru> Transport arrives. Before you all leave, Ori'on stops for a moment and looks back towards the substation, damaged by fighting and by the crushing force of the spider's hands. And he looks up at it, frowning just slightly. And anyone watches sees the world shift and warp until the substation looks just how it had looked when you'd all arrived, undamaged and well-lit.
<Kaeru> He provides no comment, and his hands remain clasped behind his back. He turns and follows you all to the transport, cooperating with any requests.
<Soulless> Joshua gapes at the man.
<Soulless> He gapes some more the whole way through.
<Kaeru> He blinks, questioning, expectant, unsure of Joshua's reason for staring.
<Soulless> Joshua doesn't explain shit.
<Varren> Ezekiel slowly rubs his head and murmurs how there is going ot be too much paperwork to ever do from this mission.
<ArseneLupin> Stephen is silent
<Varren> Ezekiel climbs into the transport and slumps where he can to try and sleep off the migraine
<Kaeru> When Ori'on approaches the transport, an agent exits and seems as though he plans to cuff Ori'on's hands. But he stands in front of Ori'on, and after a moment lowers the cuffs and returns inside the transport without explanation. You are all taken back to the site.
<Kaeru> (end.)
Blackout