Sephar says "Hrm... is there any way I could be looking at the backstage while doing sound and light stuff?"
You say "You might have been able to possess another host, though you wouldn't have the Forces for a second human. Perhaps a backstage cat or dog or rat or something."
Demiurge nods. A rat will take a while to get to the action, though.
Sephar says "Sure."
You say "You get there in time to see Props (the guy who handles all the stage properties, that is, items carried round by actors) being carried to the medical area by several chorus members, bruised, saying he'd been attacked by a cast member."
You say "Said cast member is loitering limply in the door of the room, saying someone must have put something in his drink as he can't remember anything."
You say "Also, just arrived on the scene, you notice Zebina, a dark-haired young man, Chephirah (if you know her) and a bird oddly flapping round the place inside."
Sephar grins at Demiurge, "Keen. I don't think I'd know Chephirah... though I might notice the bird."
Demiurge nods.
You say "The bird leaves unobtrusively."
You say "The three humans also leave, after some inexplicable laughter from the unidentified man."
You say "Sephar, people have been leaving the opera house. It's now mostly empty, apart from a few stragglers, a couple of security guards, and the like."
You say "In fact, Sephar, your current host should probably be heading for his own home now, you suspect."
You say "The human one, that is."
Sephar lets the electrician go when most of the rest of the techs go home and will sit in the second rat for a while, hiding in the rafters.
Sephar says "I'll probably watch the routine of the security guards for a bit..."
Hitherby, in mosquito, buzzes around in the car with Sarah, telling herself over and over again that angels don't have blood. It's a total lie, but, fortunately, Kyriotates never become Balseraphs.
You say "The security guards have a fairly standard routine, Sephar. After a few sweeps you become reasonably familiar with it."
Sarah says "Equally fortunately, Cherubim are not likely to swat Kyrios. :)"
Sephar says "Okay then I'll slide into one of the quieter ones and patrol along the routes that they usually do."
Sephar says "But peer about with my perception ability."
<
You say "Sephar, you can hear someone playing the violin, very quietly, somewhere in the
distance. Possibly in the practice rooms area."
You say "Sarah, Hitherby, your car draws up outside."
Hitherby drops down about 8-10 swarms of mosquitos to car level, so that she can talk to Sarah.
Sephar says "Is the violin player any good?"
Hitherby had them here, like most of her resources :)
You say "He sounds really, really excellent."
Sarah holds the door for the individual mosquito; glances about for any watchers (can't be too
careful after the last time) before letting herself nod to the swarms.
You say "The opera house looks dark and locked, Sarah."
Sephar will linger just a bit near the practice rooms, then, now and again, anything that
harmonious has to be good.
You say "Occasionally you can hear a female voice singing along with it, Sephar. Nice voice,
though not as good as the violin."
Hitherby mutters, in a staccato hum of beating wings, "We *will* get rid of the demon if he gets
in our way, yes?"
Sephar nods and doesn't bother them... but does look about.
You say "Hm. Try a Per roll, Sephar."
Hitherby says "The Props guy, I mean. Not the Lili," *wing-hiccough* "lim."
<
Sephar grins.
Sarah replies, "If it's here - yes, if we can." She flexes her fingers lightly. "One must trust that the
proper opportunity will present itself."
Hitherby hums a quick atonal scale. "Good."
You say "Sephar, you thought you heard someone down the passage and ahead of you, towards
the stage. Just a whisper of footsteps."
Hitherby says "I didn't see him leave."
Sephar goes down to check, as quietly as he's able. The rat scampers a bit more adroitly above.
<
Hitherby gives off another hiccough. "I should have kept someone inside in case the doors are
blocked."
You say "You can't spot anything, Sephar, but if someone did come this way, they must have
headed towards the stage."
Sephar thinks about it and then strolls toward the stage with a security guard's somewhat heavy
step.
Hitherby sighs philosophically, as mosquito swarms are prone to do.
Sephar sends the rat a little ahead of the guard to see what activity the suonds might chase out.
Sarah turns to regard the building. "Too late to worry about that now."
Hitherby admits, "Yes." They consider. "Where do you wish to enter?"
<
You say "The rat, in shades of black and white, sees a vaguely-female form duck down into the
orchestra pit (in front of the stage)."
Sarah says "Preferably somewhere that will attract as little attention as possible." She shrugs.
"Then again, I don't know who or what is inside, or where inside they might be. I suppose that
reduces us to trying doors."
Sephar says "Okay... then I'll stroll along the stage and out the other side... and leave the rat in
place to see where she goes next..."
You say "She seems to be lurking there for the moment, Sephar. Not showing any signs of
coming out yet."
Hitherby buzzes. "I will follow your lead. I do not like doors."
Sephar chuckles. "Okay... then I'll get the guard to go down... to the orchestra pit and go through
there with his flashlight.
Sarah nods to the swarms again; gives just one more look around, particularly to any potentially
Calabite-hiding shadows, and goes to walk around the building, trying doors.
Sephar also periodically checks with Pat's answering machine.
You say "There's really only the front entrance, Sarah, and the stage door at the back. It seems
to be locked, but there's a small lit doorbell."
<
You say "Sephar, you notice that the door at the back of the orchestra pit, which the musicians
come through, is standing slightly ajar: there's nobody currently in the pit."
Sephar goes to the door, pushes it open just a bit, then checks inside before walking in.
Sarah, not having B&E as a particular specialty, rings the small lit doorbell. :)
Hitherby draws all swarms up above the door.
Hitherby (well, all of the 8 or so with Sarah.)
You say "Sephar, as you are about to do that, the little radio that you're carrying makes a buzzing
noise."
You say "It sounds like some kind of doorbell noise."
You say "Make an Int roll?"
Sephar backs up two steps and ...
<
You say "You suspect that this is some kind of link to one of the doors, either front door or back
stage door, and either as burglar alarm or doorbell."
Sephar hrms, "How many guards were there?"
Sarah waits patiently, attempting not to pay undue attention to the great buzzing clouds above
her head.
You say "There's a couple moving about at any one time, and another couple offshift."
Sephar says "Okay... then I'll go into the room, thinking that someone else will take care of the
door."
You say "Okay. Beyond the door, Sephar, is a corridor leading to the backstage instrument
storage and practice rooms area. The several doors along it look closed."
You say "Sarah, Hitherby, there's a buzz as someone operates something the other side of the
door, then a small slot opens in the door at eye-level. A voice says, "Who is it?""
Sephar says "I'll walk down and push at each door."
Hitherby attempts to possess. (I think there's a penalty for voice-only, so I'm not expecting
success :)
You say "Roll, Hitherby."
<
<
You say "Not bad. You're in. It looks like a guard's body, Hitherby, the other side of the door."
You say "Sephar, the third door on the left opens slightly under your hand."
Sarah nods toward the slot, pleasantly. "Good evening, sir. I was just wondering - There was a
gentleman hurt here, earlier. Do you know if he'll be all right?"
Hitherby adds, through the door, "Oh, hi, Sarah. C'mon in." S/he starts fiddling with whatever
looks like a locking or closing mechanism.
Sarah gives a substantially relieved smile. "Oh, good."
Sephar opens it, looks, then walks in.
Sephar says "Well, depending on what I see."
You say "Hitherby, you manage to find the bolt after a couple of tries, and let Sarah in."
You say "Sephar, this looks like an instrument storage area. The light is off. You can see the
disturbing shapes of various musical instruments, stacked around."
Hitherby drifts in the swarms, and looks at his/her guard's body. "Hm."
Sephar says "Disturbing? or disturbed?"
You say "The guard is running to fat a bit, and carries a small radio and stick at his belt,
Hitherby."
You say "Make a Per roll, Sephar."
<
You say "Nothing's been disturbed, nope. Can't spot anything odd at all. :)"
Sarah steps inside, and glances up at the swarms, holding the door open a bit for the moment. "He
might be convenient."
Sephar laughs.
Hitherby flaps his hands. "D'you want this guy with us, Sarah, or should I go make him think he
was asleep?"
Hitherby says "Ah."
Sephar hrms... flashes his flashlight about and then shrugs quietly and goes back out in the
hallway.
Hitherby slips out of his shoes.
Sarah glances down at the shoes.
Hitherby blushes faintly. "Can't stand the things," a swarm hums.
You say "The hallway is still and quiet, Sephar. No more buzzes from your radio."
Sephar goes down the rest of the hallway, checking the doors as before...
Hitherby starts to walk, at an even pace, towards Props' office.
Sarah leans down and picks up said shoes, with a simple little nod, and follows after. Presumably
he/it/they knows where he/it/they is/are going. Does close and bolt the door again first, though.
You say "There's another door open, fourth to the left. The violin music starts up again."
You say "Sephar, you can also hear two pairs of footsteps in the distance, one louder than the
other. They're somewhere backstage."
Hitherby buzzes, softly, behind Chephirah, "He is most likely in his office. Now I will shut up like
a proper mosquito hunting ferocious prey."
Sephar says "If the music isn't coming from behind the open door, I'll open it slowly as well."
You say "The music was coming from behind the open door, Sephar. It stops as you approach."
Sephar hrms quietly, "If there are footsteps coming towards the door, I'll just wait there,
otherwise, I'll just turn and go back towards the stage."
You say "No footsteps from behind the door, no. Just silence now."
Sarah murmurs, "If he isn't, we'll come up with something else there. First things first."
You say "Everyone make a Perception roll, please."
<
<
<
Sarah (FINALLY a decent roll)
Hitherby is clearly running too many swarms to pay proper attention. :)
You say "Sarah, you can hear regular footsteps somewhere else backstage, and very dimly behind
them, a violin. The violin stops, and then the footsteps stop."
You say "Sephar, you hear the soft murmuring of voices again, two voices, accompanying the
footsteps."
Sarah adds quietly, "Someone's play-- no. They've stopped." Shakes her head. "Later."
Sephar says "Ah... okay... then I'll walk towards the voices and footsteps."
Sephar says "And since the rat is out there... it can take a look at 'em."
You say "The rat gets a passing view as it scuttles down the corridor, trying to catch up: the other
current security guard, together with a young woman, who is the young woman you saw earlier
in company with Zebina. Oh, and the guard has taken his shoes off."
Sarah is, indeed, carrying a pair of shoes, as it happens.
You say "Hitherby, Chephirah, make Perception rolls, please."
<
<
You say "Hitherby, you fail. Sarah: there's a rat! And it seemed to be watching you!"
Sephar laughs softly.
Sarah flicks a glance back, sharply. (Subtle, she.)
You say "Sephar, you observe the woman look right at where the rat was."
Sephar sends the rat away from the woman, scrambles to somewhere safish.
Sarah did not throw a shoe at the rat, no. :)
Sephar strolls towards them along the stage, then, and murmurs, "Hitherby?" when he gets close
enough.
You say "Sarah, Hitherby, you hear the footsteps approaching, and then a voice murmurs,
"Hitherby?""
Hitherby drifts a mosquito swarm out towards the voice, if she can't turn and see the guard.
Sarah adjusts her glasses and peers.
You say "The mosquitos are nearly invisible in the dim light, though one can hear their faint hum.
They catch sight of the guard, as does Sarah, and Hitherby's human host when he turns."
Sephar says softly to the mosquitos when he hears the hum, "I'm Saphar, is the one with you one
of us?"
Hitherby stops frantically trying to figure out which Archangel looks like *that* and hums, "Oh(!).
Hi."
Hitherby says "One is me and one is one of us."
Sephar nods and walks in quietly and nods to the woman than. "I'm Sephar. Do you two need
anything? It's been pretty quiet so far tonight."
Hitherby adds, low by Sarah's ear, "He's safe," before Sephar comes too close.
Hitherby whispers a scale with forelegs rubbed together. "We're hunting the Props demon."
Sarah returns the nod, with another relieved smile.
Sarah says "Good evening. - Yes. That we are."
Sephar says "Another? Hrm. There's another demon in with the techs, it seems... one of the
Factions folks..."
Sephar says "Maybe."
Sarah sighs lightly. "Perfect. That would be - three groups, perhaps four."
You say "In the distance, the violin playing starts again, very softly, whispering up and down."
Hitherby hums uncertainly. "We should kill him second, then. Is he still here?"
Hitherby mutters, "I think the two are related. I vaguely remember that Props hired two people."
Sephar listens quietly and nods at the two of you.
Sarah murmurs, "I hope there's enough redundancy for the opera to recover." She glances toward
the Sephar-guard. "The tech is still here, then? Tonight, or still employed?"
Sephar says "Did all the techs go home, Demiurge? I would have kept an eye on Math..."
You say "Math was heading towards the exit, last you saw of him. Did you actually try and watch
him go out of the door?"
Hitherby hisses scratchily, "I think that we can arrange for replacements, if we are so lucky as to
require it."
Hitherby gives off a soft crackling noise as she adjusts her calibration.
Sephar says "I think I would have watched to see if he got to his car..."
Sarah smiles more or less toward the mosquito swarm, whichever direction the hum seems to be
from at the moment.
Sephar says "... but not all the way home."
Sephar says "Probably with a rat."
You say "Sephar, it's not that feasible to take a rat round outside, especially down a crowded
corridor and into a carpark."
Sephar says "Ah. Then not. Just as far as the door."
You say "You had the impression he went outside. It is possible, maybe, that he slipped your gaze
or doubled back. But you thought he left."
(At this point Sephar's player had to leave. Sephar's human host went to go and watch/guard the
back door while Sarah and Hitherby explored: Sephar's rat host stayed with Hitherby.)
Sephar gets the rat from the walls back and it jumps onto Hitherby's guard's shoulder.
Hitherby scratches the rat's ear gently.
Sephar 's rat curls close to Hitherby's throat.
Hitherby continues on towards Props' office, after Sephar leaves, until and unless Sarah suggests
otherwise (e.g. to investigate the violin.)
Sarah fails to suggest otherwise, being most worried about a demon running Props. :)
You say "Okay. You have arrived outside the door to Props' room. It appears to be shut. You
can't tell if there's a light beyond."
Sarah, subtle and mysterious manipulatrix that she is, tries the door.
You say "Sarah, you try the handle, but it is locked."
You say "Perception roll, please, both of you."
<
<
<
You say "Nice quiet corridor. :)"
Hitherby tries not to buzz too much at this crucial juncture.
Sarah, her clever stratagem foiled, glances to Hitherguard, shrugs a little, and tries knocking.
(Can't hurt. Too much.)
Hitherby . o O ( Let the Cherub take the first hit, since I've not recovered from the last one, and
then pounce with many bodies. What a clever Kyriotate am I. )
You say "There is no reply from inside. All is quiet."
Hitherby isn't really thinking that consciously, although it is part of her subconscious logic.
Sarah hms.
Sarah looks somewhat doubtfully at the doorknob or any sign of a lock.
You say "There is a lock, there is a doorknob."
Hitherby taps the guard's throat, and looks a question at Sarah, with a hint of dread in her eyes.
Sarah glances up at Hitherby, eyebrows arched. And, as an afterthought, takes off her glasses,
folds them neatly, and tucks them into a pocket.
Hitherby mouths, exaggeratedly, and in silence, "Everything okay in there, sir?" Sarah may not
be able to follow, but Hitherby is used to being misunderstood.
Sarah shakes her head, slowly. Whether this is a 'no' or an 'I have no idea what you just said' may
be less than clear.
Hitherby looks relieved.
You say "There might, perhaps, be the faintest whisper of sound from behind the door. Or maybe
it's your imaginations."
Sarah flexes her fingers again, thoughtfully, and leans a little closer to the door to listen.
You say "Roll the dice, Sarah."
<
<
You say "Sarah, you're feeling bored."
You say "This can't be important. It really can't matter that much. Why are you hanging round
here like a pair of idiots?"
You say "It really doesn't matter. Nothing's that important."
Hitherby OOC eep.
You paged Sarah with 'You have been hit by a Habbalite Resonance. For the next while (until I
tell you it's stopped) you're, just, blah. Ennui. Bored. Moving a bit slower than usual. Burned-out
feeling emotionally.'.
From afar, Sarah laughs. Whoooops. :)
Sarah shakes her head, settling back. "There's no-one here," she says aloud. Not particularly loud,
and not putting out the effort to sound crisp.
Hitherby nods. "Break it down?" he suggests as our next option.
Sarah says "It's not worth the effort, is it? He'll be here tomorrow."
Sarah shrugs.
Hitherby peers at Sarah.
Hitherby says "Best time for it."
Hitherby waves Sarah gently aside.
Sarah doesn't even bother to look back; she leans against the door instead. "There's nothing we
can't get from him later."
Hitherby frowns.
Sarah considers the wall across the corridor.
Hitherby thinks back to how her mind was attacked, and swears, viciously, "Limbo!" He then
attempts to pick Sarah up physically and move her out of the way.
You say "I think Sarah's fairly liftable. Not too heavy a Vessel?"
Sarah is pretty sure she's a fairly light vessel. :)
You paged Hitherby with 'About now your Bee, sitting near Zebina and Daimon, hears the
dreaded word, "SHEDITE."'.
Sarah gives Hitherguard a mildly dubious look. "What's gotten into you," she comments more
than asks.
You paged Hitherby with 'Also the dreaded word, "HABBALITE."'.
Hitherby's eyes catch figuratively on fire. "Oh God."
Hitherby whispers fiercely in Sarah's ear, "He's a Shedite."
Hitherby then turns to the door and attempts to Song of Motion her guard right through it. (Or
to break it down, at the very least.)
Sarah replies, "He's not here. Shall we go?"
You paged Hitherby with 'What, using him like a battering ram, and the Song for added impetus?'.
Hitherby will spend 1 extra Essence to make the Song work, but is saving the rest.
From afar, Hitherby nods. 'Zackly.
<
You say "Oh my."
You say "Hitherby's guard-host _crashes_ through the door in a rain of splinters, doing some
minor corporeal damage to the host in the process - just some bruises and grazes - and _slams_
into a thin man who was crouching the other side of the door."
You say "Both of you go flying across the room to slam into the opposite wall."
You say "There's Props in the room too, sitting at the desk, with a very dim desk light on. He's
rising from his seat, taken by surprise."
Hitherby probably has to wait until the next action, but her swarms will boil into the room at that
point.
Hitherby's swarms will go for the Shedite, if she gets to move and attack, if she sees him -- she'll
have lots of eyes to spot him with, but she still might miss him 'cause of this other guy right in
front of her guard's face.
You say "The other guy appears to be trying to get his breath. The Shedite is bringing up his
hands, mouth moving."
<
You say "Roll, Hitherby."
<
Hitherby snif.
You say "Okay. Your swarms begin to close in on the Shedite, swarming on his body. You begin
to damage it."
You say "Roll, please, both of you."
<
<
<
Hitherby fails modestly.
You say "Nah, I'm afraid neither of you notice any great Symphonic disturbance."
You say "Okay. The guy that Hitherby's guard crashed into seems to be coming round. The
Shedite screams desperately, and gestures in a way that suggests he's trying for a Song."
Hitherby's guard will throttle the guy he crashed into, next action.
Sarah hms. Does she care enough to be doing anything at this point. :)
You say "Well, you don't particularly care, no, Sarah. But you can always wander in and watch
boredly if you like."
Sarah does that, with a sort of vague, yawning curiosity.
Hitherby will throttle and bang his head against the wall and all those good things, saying, "We
*could* have talked. We *could* have talked." She might even admit, honestly, "Maybe," but that
will probably happen much later in the night, if she survives.
Hitherby doesn't have a big thing against Habbalites. At least, not like her thing against Shedim.
You say "Please roll, Hitherby."
<
<
You say "Meanwhile, the Shedite gestures again, and a shimmering ripple of dark pulsing red light
seems to run across his skin, forcing the mosquitos back. No more of that tasty blood!"
You say "Hitherby, your hands tighten on the other guy's throat. Bang bang bang."
Hitherby says "Do I have any idea what kind of Song does that, Demiurge?"
You say "You suspect he's using a Song of Corporeal Shields. (The swine.)"
Hitherby can't do anything about it, unless she wants to abandon all her hosts and try and possess
him again. Still, in hopes of a future advantage -- a swarm will pop off a Song of Charm
(Strength) at him, and -- I think I would like to spend 2 Essence on my Int defense the next time
I feel an Ethereal Entropy coming my way. I'm not sure where that leaves me Essencewise, but
pretty low.
Hitherby adds, via another swarm, "Curse it, Sarah, you're supposed to be *devoted*."
Hitherby probably has too much fun being a Kyriotate *blush* :)
Sarah contemplates the dark pulsing red light, less than impressed. "You seem to be doing fine."
You say "Okay. Roll for your Song, Hitherby. (And yes, you can feel you're getting low on
Essence.)"
<
You say "He swears something foul in the diabolical tongue at you, which you should probably
be glad you don't understand."
You say "He (the Shedite) staggers to his feet, and braces himself against the desk, clearly badly
affected."
Hitherby mutters, in another swarm, "You want make *deal*, better talk fast." She continues to
skate on the surface of the shield.
Hitherby also bangs the Habbalite's head against the wall some more. It's a good use of her anger,
and Jordi feels that letting out your anger is healthy.
<
You say "The Habbalite does seem to be coming round a bit. He's fighting back now, if feebly."
You say "The Shedite circles the desk, his lips moving."
Hitherby taunts, "Don't use all your Essence. More of us coming." Possibly even simultaneous to
her other comments; I mean, it's not exactly singleminded.
<
You say "Hitherby, make an Int roll, please."
Sarah adds mildly, "That's right. This is making rather a bit of noise, isn't it."
Hitherby uses the 2 Essence, as formerly stated, and rolls ...
<
Hitherby snif.
You say "Alas."
You say "Hitherby, that was your poor little mind nearly blowing a gasket. That really hurt.
However, the Shedite is also only staying upright by hanging onto the desk. (Cue horrific
nightmare visions for the next few seconds.)"
Hitherby screams. In every host.
You say "Oh, and there's enough Symphonic screaming going on now for the most head-blind
Celestial to notice it."
You say "The Shedite claps his hands over his ears, and the Habbalite groans at the united noise
that tears at the room. In the distance, you can hear the sound of running feet."
Sarah glances halfway back to the door. "Ah, there they are."
<
You say "As Hitherby is screaming, the man his human host has a hold of stares at him, his brow
furrowing."
You say "Hitherby, try a Will roll, please. :)"
<
You say "You feel a strong impulse to just cower in a corner with your hands over your head, but
manage to force it back with a heroic effort."
You say "The Shedite lurches in your direction, grabbing at the desk lamp, his movements
uncoordinated."
Sarah sighs, more or less toward the Shedite. "Really. Must you?"
Hitherby's mosquitos attempt to shove the desk into the Shedite's legs. And her guard will throw
the Habbalite at the Shedite, much as she would OOC like to keep strangling him.
You say "Roll, Hitherby?"
<
You say "The Habbalite goes hurtling across the room, into the Shedite, who goes into the desk,
and they go tumbling together. The sounds of feet are now _real_ close."
Hitherby, reviewing this later, will think: "Why didn't I send a swarm out to stop whoever was in
the hall?" However, she doesn't.
Hitherby's next action will be to try and roll the desk over on top of him. She *really* hates
Shedim :)
You say "BTW, Hitherby, unless your rage has blinded you, you will have noticed that his host
body is making symphonic disturbance as it gets hurt."
You say "Okay."
<
You say "Please roll _twice_, Hitherby, once for Strength, once for Will."
<
<
You say "Okay. You shrug off another wave of fear, and manage to tip the desk onto the
Shedite's foot, trapping it."
Hitherby . o O ( And the jury remains out on whether this is going to be a total victory or an utter
and complete disaster. :) )
You say "At this moment, two other guards come bursting through the door."
You paged Sarah with 'It's starting to wear off!'.
You paged Sarah with 'Tendrils of genuine emotion work their way through the blank state.
You're beginning to feel again.'.
Hitherby crosses her fingers in hopes that if the Shedite switches hosts it will keep the Song of
Shields up.
You paged Sarah with 'Looking around, you cannot feel entirely happy.'.
Sarah pages: Uh. No. :)
You say "The Habbalite, rolling on the floor, screams, "Help! He's gone crazy!" He points at
Hitherby's host.""
Hitherby spares a swarm or two to shriek, "Liar!"
Long distance to Hitherby: Demiurge just laughs.
Sarah (But will they take a mosquito's word for it?)
You say "The guards blanch. One of them yells, "All right, everyone, stop it right there!" The
other is fumbling frantically with his radio."
Hitherby drops three swarms onto the Habbalite's face, unless the Shields have gone down.
Hitherby says "*Mad* swarms."
Sarah looks around like someone with no idea what to do. Fortunately, this probably makes some
kind of sense from everyone's perspective, at the moment. :)
<
You say "Sarah, Hitherby, both make a Perception roll, please."
<
Hitherby's silent OOC prayer is not granted. :)
<
You say "The Habbalite screams, making choking noises as mosquitos descend upon him."
You say "At _that_ moment, giant-sized tins of Raid come rattling out of the door, walking on
hind legs! Yes, these are huge tins of insecticide about to mount an assault! Hitherby, they are
about to attack and spray your poor mosquitoes!"
You paged Sarah and Hitherby with 'For those who are Rules-curious, a Servitor of Kobal has
just invoked a Prank on you.'.
You say "The two guards go even whiter, and scrabble a retreat, the second babbling frantically
into his radio. Something about "Police" and "Help" and "Gas warfare" and "murdering lunatics"."
Hitherby launches her guard, using that Song of Motion, at the tins, in hopes to knock them down
like bowling pins. The mosquitos pour under the desk in hopes of safety, except one vindictive
swarm who, knowing the Habbalite is responsible, *somehow*, sit on his face and use full
Kyrio-strength via 22 pairs of wings to slam his head backwards into the floor.
Hitherby . o O ( "This is all your fault somehow!" )
Sarah stumbles away from the door, staring blankly. Backwards, yes. Without looking.
<
Hitherby . o O ( The cans agilely dodge! No, wait. )
You say "Hitherby, with great speed and style you plough at the cans, plough _right through_
where they are, and slam into the wall with a nasty, nasty bang. You think you may have done this
human host some definite damage to his ribs and arms."
You say "Sarah, you observe this interesting sight."
Hitherby . o O ( Cognitive dissonance! )
You say "The sprawled Habbalite is gargling something at the mosquitoes."
You say "The Shedite is trying to get his foot out from under the desk."
You say "The Symphony is racketing something appalling."
Sarah says "Question one: does this clue me in that the cans are not simply another bizarre
corporeal thing I don't understand? Question two: did the guards back up inside or outside the
room?"
Hitherby thinks she is relatively unable to stop believing the illusion, so the guard will try and
stagger up and stand in front of the cans. The mosquitos under the desk will *sit* on the Shedite's
leg, if they can. The swarm on the Habbalite's face doesn't stop. If the mosquitos are under the
wrong part of the desk, though, then, well, I can't stop him :)
Hitherby's guard hisses at the Raid, "You want the bugs, baby, you go through *me*."
You say "Sarah: this makes you realise that it's probably some bizarre illusion, the cans, that is.
The guards backed up to the corridor outside."
You say "Hitherby: the cans hop and jump about in a menacing threat-display."
<
You say "The Habbalite gestures in the air, somewhat blindly."
You say "Make a will roll, Hitherby."
<
You say "You yet again manage to throw off the snares of some form of dark celestial attack."
Sarah would like to smack the nice gesturing type, then, thank you. Or at least to attempt to. :)
You say "Roll, Sarah. :)"
<
You say "Sarah manages to smack the nice gesturing type a good thorough one."
You say "Outside, you hear the faint sound of police sirens."
You say "The Shedite's shields have just gone down."
You say "Sarah: the guy that you are walloping spits, "Bitch!" at you. His eyes defocus as he
concentrates."
Sarah says "Let me guess. Roll? :)"
Hitherby wants him dead. She believes, perhaps incorrectly, that if he skipped bodies, the Shields
would have gone down. It has to be a matter of seconds before the Prank wears off, since it only
*lasts* seconds; when it does, she is going to go for the Shedite with all bodies.
You say "The cans of Raid disappear, with a whistling noise."
You say "Roll, Sarah."
<
Sarah (uh oh)
You say "Sarah, your fist slams into the floor as he begins to fade out."
You say "Perception roll for both of you, please."
<
<
<
<
Sarah (blinded again!)
You say "The Habbalite apparently just vanishes. Gone."
You say "Meanwhile, Hitherby springs upon the prone Shedite-host?"
Hitherby nods. Diverts the swarms she left outside (who are not afflicted with the rage :) to try
and keep the police out of the picture for a bit, but Sephar hasn't warned of them arriving, so.
Meanwhile, yah. She wants him unconscious *at least*.
You say "The rat in Hitherby's coat begins shrieking, "Police! Police at the door!""
You say "The Shedite's host gets hit, badly, mosquitoes descending on him, the human
Hitherby-host pummelling at him. He goes limp, breathing stertorous."
<
You say "Perception roll, please, both of you."
<
Sarah (hey!)
Hitherby counts hosts. Hm. No birds. A swarm outside will yell as loud as it can in bird-language,
"Stop the cops!" (Well, "Stop men in blue!")
<
You say "Hitherby is as blind as ever. Sarah perceives the Shedite's infernal form come boiling out
of the human host, in a mass of eyes and mouths and slimy organs and unspeakable tentacles."
<
Hitherby pants over the limp body. "Okay. We have to get this to a Tether."
You say "The host does appear to be still breathing, just about."
Hitherby's eyes slowly unfog.
You say "Sarah, you see the Shedite begin to stream towards the two guards who are still
cowering outside the door."
Sarah takes a step back, eyes widening; hisses, "It's moving!" as she turns to follow it.
Hitherby says "What's moving?"
Sarah gestures to, apparently, the air.
Sarah then does her best to go Celestial (hopefully dealing with both being caught in there by
police *and* chasing evilnastyShedite).
<
You say "Woo."
Hitherby howls, "Shedite!" And then does what she promised herself she would never do.
You say "Sarah, you assume your celestial form, winged lion."
Hitherby abandons her hosts.
Sarah (!!!!)
<
<
<
Hitherby hms. Wait.
Hitherby wants to make an Int roll to see if she's stupid enough to ditch the guard before healing
him :)
You say "Sure, Hitherby. :)"
<
Hitherby makes it. She just ditches the mosquitos, then, and uses the spare forces to summon a
celestial form. *blush*
You say "Right."
You say "Hitherby, you perceive the evilyuckyShedite, as does Chephirah."
You say "Both of you now also perceive the Habbalite who was hovering in the corner, now that
you're Celestial too. He's got little smiley faces tattooed all over his torso."
Hitherby chases the Shedite, although now she's a little bit more worried :)
You say "The Shedite coils and lashes out long oozing tendrils of self, sliding them through the
air towards Hitherby."
You say "Meanwhile, the Habbalite circles towards Chephirah, gaze fixed on her."
Chephirah checks quick. How close is the Shedite to the two yummy hostlike guards out there?
You say "Several metres away. Hitherby's closer than that on the other side."
Hitherby waits for the Shedite to come into range, and then shouts, "Go back to Hell!" in the
angels' tongue before striking out with shining rage.
You say "Roll, Hitherby."
Chephirah aghs, softly. Protect guards, keep Habbie away from reinforcing. Hm. Well, either way,
the Symphony is going to have to deal with one more Song. Lions do, after all, have claws.
<
You say "And you too, Chephirah. ;)"
<
<
<
You say "Hitherby's blinding strike goes squarely home, smiting firmly into the Shedite and
tearing gobbets out of it. It screams in agony."
You say "Chephirah, your Claws fail to materialise, I fear."
You say "Make a Will roll, please."
<
Chephirah . o O ( what? )
You say "Chephirah, what are you currently looking at?"
You say "I suspect the Shedite and Hitherby?"
Chephirah suspects so, foolish she :)
You say "Chephirah, the Habbalite says towards you - very softly, as though you two were the
only beings in the world - "Vile, isn't it?" It gestures towards the struggling Hitherby. You find
yourself full of a dreadful disgust and anger."
You say "The Shedite gathers itself together, and howls at Hitherby, "Fool, you will writhe in my
Master's pits for this, for a thousand years!""
You paged Chephirah with 'Yes, you have again been Habbalated. Nasty things. You are full of
an insane anger towards Hitherby. (It won't last long.)'.
Hitherby sneers.
Chephirah pages: Ah, so glad the Song *didn't* work. ;)
You paged Chephirah with 'Truly, God moves in mysterious ways. :)'.
Chephirah growls, low and rumbling, "Madling. Fool --"
Hitherby says, "Blow." And continues the assault on her next turn :)
Chephirah throws herself at the shining Hitherby, all fur and wings and rage.
You say "Police are running through the opera house now, and lights going on all over the place,
entirely ignorant of the celestial battle taking place. Well, so far."
You say "Hitherby, Chephirah, please both roll."
Hitherby lets the guard lean against the wall with his eyes blank and staring, for what that's worth.
<
<
You say "Hitherby, although taken by surprise, manages to avoid the worst of the blow as
Chephirah is carried away by her fury."
You say "Hitherby takes only a couple of minor lacerations, nothing at all serious."
You say "The Shedite squirms, attempting to disengage from Hitherby, and the Habbalite circles
again, smirking."
Hitherby closes her eyes. She could get away, but then would get attacked again *or* Chephirah
would get double-teamed.
Hitherby takes the next two rounds failing to dodge, in an attempt to summon Jordi.
Hitherby . o O ( So much for my promotion. )
Chephirah, just not quite being herself tonight, continues to be rabid. :)
You say "Chephirah continues to rip a certain amount from the suffering Hitherby."
Hitherby, with part of its mind, mulls reflectively on how the selflessness of her action will be
almost overwhelmed by doing it from inside an opera building :)
You say "Then - the Shedite and Habbalite, possible realising what Hitherby is doing, both turn
and pivot, diving for the floor. Being in Celestial form, they both pass through it as though it were
water."
Chephirah (With noooooo animals involved. :) )
Hitherby . o O ( Hey, you're a Cherub! That's sort of like an animal, physically! )
You say "(do not let this stop Hitherby, however)"
Chephirah (grins)
Hitherby doesn't stop. They can only get so far away.
You say "Oooookay."
You say "Roll, Hitherby."
Hitherby admits that Jordi might not nab them, even if they're close, even if I manage the
summoning, but hey, why not dream :)
<
Demiurge's jaw drops.
Hitherby *cheers*.
Demiurge puts her head in her hands, grabs the book, and seeks frantically for inspiration.
You say "There is a long, low thrumming in the air, like the sound of a thousand wings on distant
savannahs, or the wind beneath the wings of mighty eagles."
Chephirah checks to see if she's still frothing.
You say "Chephirah, you suddenly feel the urge to rip the living guts out of Hitherby draining
away like water, leaving you your controlled and sensible self."
You say "There is a presence coalescing in the room, almost too strong to bear, almost too
beautiful to endure."
You say "Hitherby, you recognise your Archangel, now becoming manifest about you in the
whirling of a thousand insects, wings rainbow hues and perfect."
Hitherby opens one eye, tentatively, and then closes it again and lowers herself to the floor, which
is really the closest she can come to respectful obeisance without a waist.
You say "A voice throbs in the air about the two of you. "WHY have i BEen suMONNed?""
You say "Hitherby, you can feel your body knitting itself back together, and your mind
recoalescing, the sound of Jordi's voice like soothing water to your aching thoughts."
Chephirah retreats a step; bows her head, tail and ears sinking like those of a rebuked kitten,
wings folding from their furious display.
Hitherby says, "A Shedite, Great One. It -- I couldn't defeat it, and if -- I didn't want to let it go,
and if I had, Sarah would have probably died -- and -- it's still near, Great One. It went down .."
Hitherby waves her hands around.
Hitherby says, for completeness, "A Habbalite too."
You say "The voice rushes around you like the beating of the wings of dragonflies. Firm.
Compelling. Natural. "yOU caRe foR THe paCK. thiS IS as iT ShouLD be.""
Hitherby blushes a faint violet.
Hitherby says "I was angry, Great One, too. I'm sorry. But it -- it -- I mean, it was a good thing
to be angry at."
You say "The sense of presence is firm around both of you. "gO NOW frOm tHIS plaCE Of
hUMAns. nONE ShalL hARm yOu tHIs NIGht." Light seems to halo the wall, and it fades to
transparency, showing one of Hitherby's favorite parks through it like a window."
Hitherby will pass through, respectfully, and bring the guard through if he can see the gate.
You say "The light fluxes, till it seems that you could step directly from where you are into the
park. "gO NOw. bE ANgry agAINst thE cORRuptorS.""
You say "The guard seems to be asleep, his wounds closed over and vanished."
You say "Hitherby, you are now totally in Celestial form."
You say "(but you do know there are loads of potential hosts in that park)"
Hitherby will trust Jordi to take care of the mosquitos, so that they don't get squished, since he
has effectively given her an order.
Hitherby slips through into the park.
Chephirah lowers her head again, and does not *quite* slink after Hitherby, but much of the aura
of embarrassed rebukedness is there. Even as a lion.
You say "You both find yourselves in the park, under a peaceful night sky, with the halo of Jordi's
presence dying away like an echo of the perfect Symphony."
Chephirah turns her head, slow and almost shy, to the remaining dragonfly-cloud.
Chephirah says "I... I'm sorry."
Hitherby starts nabbing hosts, humming celestially. Not so much from Jordi as from having a
bunch of Mind hits restored.
Hitherby says, "Habbalite. These things happen." It smiles. "Besides, it worked out."
Chephirah says "No. It didn't. The Shedite is still loose, and who knows who it is."
Chephirah says "Except..."
You paged Chephirah and Hitherby with 'You're both back up to full Hits and Essence.'.
From afar, to Demiurge and Chephirah, Hitherby :)
From afar, to Demiurge and Hitherby, Chephirah makes note. Be very kind to animals. For a long
time. :)
Hitherby looks thoughtful. "We can hope it got scared enough to dive back to Hell. Otherwise,
at least we've got Essence and they *don't*."
Hitherby hums some more, although there's no real pattern to the notes. "Oh, a *fine* dragonfly.
Look --" And she gestures towards a gleaming shape in the night.
Hitherby sounds much saner when not dealing with abhorrent Shedim with a handful of Mind hits
left.
Chephirah adds, thoughtfully, "And we have the Lilim." She turns her shaggy head, considers the
dragonfly; nods, solemn. "Fine indeed."
---