Destroyer of Nightmares

Demiurge says "Azalea, you are in the Marches. Are you working at some task, or relaxing, and if so, what are you up to?"

Azalea says "Probably looking for a way to get to the Corporeal realm."

While you are considering, you see a little black-winged imp dodging among the dreamscapes, scanning the Marches below. As it spies you, it dives down towards you, squeaking, "Mistress! Mistress! A message!"

Azalea answers impatiently, getting to her feet. "Yes?"

The imp drops to the sand in front of you, and cowers, trying to cover its head with its thin wings. "Mistress, my lord Xephar, the Demon of Falling Nightmares, ordered me to fetch you. He says that he has a mission for you in the corporeal world."

The imp cowers more, evidently terrified that it has annoyed you.

Azalea grumbles as she prepares to follow the imp, muttering minor curses about her rest being interrupted. When the imp catches her eye, she fixes it with a glare.

The imp nervously flutters ahead, leading through the Marches in the direction of Beleth's Tower. Its path leads towards one of the nexi which serve as Tether-terminals, permitting transfer down to the Corporeal realm.

A wide-winged Balseraph curls there, admiring darkly gleaming leather wings and toying with a dreamscape-sphere. Several other Calabim crouch before him, and a few imps flutter in the air above.

You paged Azalea with 'You recognise the Balseraph by reputation, though you've never had the misfortune of running into him before. It's Xephar.'.

Azalea pages: Who is Xephar?

Azalea stands in front of Xephar, slouching a bit.

You paged Azalea with 'A major demon in Beleth's service, holding the Word of Falling Nightmares. Powerful and nasty and superior to you in the organisation.'.

Xephar turns his head in a long slow movement to regard Azalea with all six eyes, tongue flickering briefly. It hisses, "You are well come, Destroyer. Our Mistress has a task for you and these other servants, on the earth below."

Azalea releases a weary breath. "And what would that be?"

The Balseraph hisses, spreading its wings again. "Respect, little one, lest I smite thee to the dust and find some other Destroyer for this task. Our Mistress has some angels who she would have followed upon the earth, and destroyed, in time."

Azalea's wings flutter a bit, perhaps fearfully, but her tone is casual. "I can do that, sure."

The Balseraph seems a shade mollified. "See that thou dost. Now, to the others." It turns, signalling with its tail to a Djinn, who nods, and indicates an area of the ground.

The Balseraph hisses, "Stand thou there, all thou Destroyers, and thou shalt be sent to the Tether below."

The other Calabim begin shambling in that direction, grumbling. The flittering imps above hastily retreat from the area.

Azalea folds her arms in front of her, a look of disdain carefully composed on her face.

The Calabim jostle each other somewhat, crowding together. The Balseraph hisses, "Now! Descend, thou Destroyers, and obey as the Seneschal below bids ye."

The Calabim begin to vanish, one by one, as they assume their Vessels and descend to the Tether below.

Azalea follows the other Calabim, unremarkably.

As you assume your corporeal bodies, you find yourself standing in a group with five other men and women, in a high-ceilinged dark room. The walls are hung with shadowy silk drapes, which rustle faintly at your arrival.

Standing near the door is a well-dressed young man, his suit fashionably cut. His hair is black and caught back in a ponytail, and his eyes have a glitter to them. His right cheek is marred with an old scar, three parallel lines that twist it. Beside him stands a middle-aged woman, bland and unremarkable in appearance. She has several manilla files under one arm.

The young man says, "Greetings. I am Belmanoir, and I am Seneschal of this Tether to our Lady Beleth."

Azalea watches the young man with dark eyes, her earthly form sharp and cold.

The other Calabim lounge or slump, eyes flicking round the room and then back to the two figures. One fiddles with the sleeve of his jacket, ripping off tiny threads.

Belmanoir glances across, and nods, seeming pleased at what he sees. "We have information on a number of angels who are involved in work against our Mistress or her allies. For the moment, you will each be assigned to one.

Belmanoir continues, voice growing colder. "You are not as yet to strike. You are to follow and observe, and watch for any further links of theirs. When the time is right, then we move. Am I understood?"

Azalea mutters her agreement in unison with the other Calabim.

Belmanoir nods again. He gestures to the woman, who starts handing out folders to three of the Calabim, one of whom is Azalea. She shrugs at the others, stepping back. "You'll get targets when we have more identities."

Belmanoir moves to the door. He says, "Those without targets will be staying here for the moment. You three," he gestures to Azalea and the other two with folders, "there are wallets with ID and cellphones for you at the desk upstairs."

Belmanoir says, "I'll be expecting a regular check-in."

Azalea's mouth twists in contempt for a moment, surveying the Calabim who were left without work. Then she returns her attention to Belmanoir and the package in her hand.

Belmanoir steps out of the door, leaving it open, and the woman follows him.

The manilla folder contains a photograph of a red-haired woman, taken from some official file, and a sheet of paper with a name, Elizabeth Bradley, an address (an airport hangar), and some basic details on a pilot license form. There are some scribbled notes at the bottom. "Presumed Ofanite. Known to carry pistol and be good shot. Believed to have involvement with target Daimonique, Lilim using dark-haired male vessel."

Azalea tucks the folder under her arm and moves to the door, going upstairs to get her wallet and cell phone.

An attractive blonde at the desk smiles sweetly as she passes over a cellphone and wallet. She also offers a card. "This has the studio - name and number on it on the front, and the private number for your reports on the back." She says, "We're officially just a film studio, so please be careful not to throw our name around." The name on the card says _Bellman's Studios_.

Azalea responds, with crisp sarcasm, "I'll try to prevent myself from going to the media."

The woman winces just a shade. "Yes, ma'am. Sorry, ma'am." She nods towards the exit, flinching back in her chair a bit.

Azalea glances through her wallet, checking first her cash, then her cards, and walks out the door.

The cards are in the name that Azalea normally uses while on the earth, and there is plenty of cash.

Outside is in front of an office-type building, with a decent-size highway running nearby. There's also a bus stop across the road, and a phone booth. Not too far in the distance, a plane rises from what must be an airport.

Azalea walks across the road, calling a cab from the phone booth.

The airport nearby is Dulles airport, so you're on the edge of DC.

The cab turns up within ten minutes, and the driver leans out of the window. "You the lady who was wanting a ride?"

Azalea answers crisply, "Yes, please." She gives him the address of the air hangar.

The cab driver takes you promptly to the air hangar, and then taps his fare meter meaningfully. Over by the hangar, a red-haired woman, recognisable from the photograph, is loading something into the trunk of a car.

Demiurge says "Sephar, Liz, make a Per roll?"

<> Sephar rolls the d666 and gets 2 4 CHECK: 6.

<> Liz rolls the d666 and gets 2 5 CHECK: 6.

Demiurge says "Both of you, in this case, notice something odd about the woman who's just getting out of a cab nearby. There's something about her that _screams_ "celestial", though you're not sure whether it's angelic or demonic."

Sephar hides in Liz's pocket.

Liz murmurs, "Sephar, do you see what I see?"

Sephar squeaks a, "yes. Someone in-coming."

Liz ponders.

Liz gets a bright idea!

Sephar peeks up at Liz.

<> Liz says "Demi, I'm going to invoke my Malakite Trade Resonance on the woman, in reference to the car and the Hangar."

<> Liz says "I want to know what they mean to her: target, nothing at all, etc."

Azalea pays the cabbie and merely stands, watching the other two. She is tall, edged, pale and blonde, with dark eyes - although she's wearing sunglasses right now - and dressed in a crisp business-like suit with sensible heels.

Liz hmms. Sunglasses at night. Could be worried about Lilim.

Demiurge says "You have to look her in the eyes to invoke the Resonance, Liz."

Demiurge says "If she's wearing sunglasses, and at dusk/night, this is hard."

<> Liz says "And since it's both..."

<> Pat says "Shoot her."

Liz ponders.

<> Demiurge says "Hey. No acting like second-rate cop shows, remember. ;)"

<> Sephar grins at Pat. "ID first..."

<> Pat says "Hee."

Liz says, quietly, "Sephar, I'm going to walk over to her. Do you want to come with, or stay at a distance?"

Liz finishes loading the car while she's at it.

Sephar says "Stay with."

Liz says "All right."

The cabbie reverses, and drives off, leaving Azalea standing there.

Liz walks over to the woman, at a polite speed.

Liz prays to Marc that this is *not* a Balseraph.

Liz stands so that her face is shadowed by the light coming from behind her at the entrance to the hangar.

Liz says "Hello, may I help you?"

Azalea says "Well, I don't know that yet, now, do I."

Azalea says "Do you think you can help me?"

Liz says "That depends. The office is closed, but if you have an urgent shipping matter, we might be able to make arrangements."

<> Daimon says "Think GAME, Liz. She's wearing _sensible heels_."

<> Liz says "So does Judgement."

<> Demiurge says "Hey. I wear sensible heels, and I don't work for the Game. : )"

<> Daimon says "That's debateable. :)"

Azalea says "No, no. No shipping matters to attend to. Anything else?"

Liz smiles a bit. "I don't know. What are you looking for?"

Azalea says "I don't know."

Liz says "But you took a cab here. There must have been a reason."

Azalea pauses, looking over Liz, her manner momentarily uncertain.

Azalea says "There might have been."

Liz 's body language is a mixture of deliberate relaxation and a certain amount of tenseness. Nothing particularly unusual.

Liz says "Ah, well, if you told me the reason, I might be able to help you."

Liz attempts to channel Pat's resonance.

<> Pat rolls the d666 and gets 3 6 CHECK: 4.

<> Pat says "You know nothing."

Azalea says "Sometimes one does things merely because they seemed like rather a clever idea at the time, and then later you realize you haven't any idea what you're doing and you stand and stare foolishly. This could be one of those times."

Liz says "Mmm. Embarassing, that."

Azalea's lips curve. "Do you feel embarassed?"

Azalea says "I don't."

Liz shrugs. "Not particularly."

Liz says "I could offer you a lift over to the main terminal if you'd like to catch another cab. Or drop you in the city, as I'm headed that way."

Liz says "I'm Elizabeth Bradley, by the way."

Azalea says "I know."

Liz says "Do you? Were you referred?"

Azalea considers this for a while.

Azalea says "In a manner of speaking, yes. But not in a way that I would have preferred, and not in a way that helps me to know if you can help me."

Liz says "All right."

Liz says "Perhaps..."

Liz says "If you tell me what you would like help with, who referred you to me, and your name, I will try to tell you if I can help you or not."

Liz says "Also your choir or band and Superior."

Liz cuts directly to the chase.

Azalea steps back a moment, regarding Liz up and down.

Azalea says "I don't think either of us is quite ready for that yet."

Liz says "Very well, we'll leave that aside for the moment."

Liz says "Tell me what you would like help with, then, and who sent you."

Azalea says "Those two things are at direct odds and I'm not sure, even, that I know the answer to either of them. Yet."

Liz says "All right, may I ask you to do one thing?"

Liz is still carefully keeping her eyes shadowed.

Liz does not want more geas hooks than the one she already has.

Azalea replies, generously, "You can ask, of course."

Liz says "Remove your sunglasses. I swear upon my Nature that you will not be harmed, changed, or incur any debts."

Liz says "Nor any obligations."

Azalea's tone is bland. "You just want to know more about me. A picture is worth a thousand words, and all that."

Liz shrugs. "If you would prefer, we can go somewhere, and talk instead."

Liz says "Or we can meet later."

Liz says "Unfortunately, I have errands and obligations, both of which must be fulfilled."

Azalea says "I think it would be better if we met later, and in another place."

Liz nods.

Azalea says "I seek - information."

Liz pulls out a business card, scrawls the phone number and address of Sistine's.

Liz says "We can meet here. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is conducive to talk, and they have late hours."

Liz says "I will be there at midnight."

Azalea takes the card from Liz, glancing over it and then putting it carefully not in her wallet. "Very well."

Liz says "Do you have a name I can call you by? It need not be traceable, nor True."

Azalea says "Azalea Persephone."

Azalea smiles.

Liz smiles back. "It is good to meet you, Azalea."

Liz says "Please, call me Liz, if you like."

Liz makes no move to touch Azalea, but she does bow, very slightly, an acknowledgement.

Azalea inclines her head. "Very well." She takes out her cell phone and dials a number.

Liz waits.

You paged Azalea with 'The report-in number you were given?'.

Sephar possesses the cell phone, to listen in...

<> Pat says "Clever Sephar!"

Liz adores having a Kyrio of Lighting around.

Azalea pages: Nope, the cab.

A voice answers on the phone. "Quickrun Cabs here, can we help you?"

Azalea says, "Please send a cab," and gives the address.

The voice replies, "It'll be with you in five minutes, madam."

From afar, Sephar will keep possession of the cell phone for the full nine minutes, in case she makes a call after they depart, it has the Forces free.

Long distance to Sephar: Demiurge nods.

Azalea hangs up, pocketing the cell phone and gifting Liz with another, perhaps awkward, smile.

Liz smiles back at Azalea.

Liz says "I hope to see you at midnight, Azalea. Godspeed."

Liz steps back, turns, walks to her car.

<> Pat says "She said Godspeed. Must be an Ofanite."

Liz gets in, starts the motor, and says, "That was extremely stressful."

Liz floors it and peels out. "Let me know if she breaks into the Hangar, Sephar."

Sephar says "Sure."

Liz takes out SepharMouse, puts it on her dash.

Liz says "What did you think of her?"

Sephar settles there, crouched a bit, "Confused."

Azalea shudders quietly, and enters the cab when it arrives, disappearing into the night.

Liz smiles. "Her, or us?"

Liz says "Or both?"

Demiurge says "Going anywhere in particular, Azalea, or just driving?"

Sephar says "Her."

Liz nods.

Sephar says "She doesn't know what she's doing, where she's going and can't trust anyone."

Liz says "Outcast, perhaps. Or a Demon about to go Renegade."

Sephar says "Something. Not connected."

Liz says "Or the Game trying to be very, very subtle."

Sephar chuckles.

Azalea pages: If they've set her up with an apartment, she'll go there; if they haven't, she'll just find herself a hotel room.

Sephar says "Well, you didn't shoot her."

Liz sighs. "I am not good with subtle."

You paged Azalea with 'She's got an apartment set up in the local Holiday Inn.'.

Liz says "That's the thing about first rate cop shows, you know. They always talk first, then maybe shoot later."

Sephar says "True."

Sephar says "Better character development, then."

Liz says "God Grant it be so."

Liz tells Sephar, "I think we should go to Pat's first, then Shannen's. He needs to know about this new development."

Sephar says "Sure."

Sephar tells Liz when Azalea's cab leaves the hangar area.

Liz sighs as she drives.

Liz says "So, if she's an Outcast... Elohite?"

Liz says "She was obviously nervous, but didn't show it. Not until the end."

Sephar patters back and forth a bit, experimentally. "Perhaps. Or Mercurian, used to dealing with people and what to show and what not... I'm not sure she exactly fits anything in particular specifically."

Liz says "And if she's Infernal?"

Sephar is likely using the car's radio to enunciate.

Liz says "Djinn, perhaps. Terrified to care about redeeming."

Liz says "Not a Bal. I hope. If she is, we're doomed."

Sephar says "I don't think I have enough data to figure it out, Liz."

Liz says "Let's speculate. Try and remove people from the equation."

Sephar says "She didn't exactly lie, though, either. Mostly conjecture and telling us what she couldn't tell us."

Liz says "Good point."

Liz says "Her body language was...non-existent."

Sephar chuckles, "Shows you my bias when I would instantly think, 'Likely not a Shedite, then' but that's how I would feel about that."

Liz says "Yeah. Didn't seem that way to me, either."

Liz says "Certainly not a Shedite of Lust."

Sephar says "Certainly."

Liz says "She was very... neat. Still. Precise."

Sephar says "Dark glasses, another Lilim?"

Liz says "Maybe."

Liz says "Seemed too neat for a Calabite, if you ask me."

Sephar nods.

Liz says "I think Djinn."

Liz says "Of... Fate."

Sephar says "How about a Habbalite?"

Liz nods. "Or a Habby going Elohite."

Liz says "That makes sense."

Sephar says "Maybe. Much emotional control until the end? Dunno..."

Liz says "It was like she had herself so tightly wrapped she couldn't bear to even smile, until there was the faintest bit of connection there."

Liz says "That seems Djinnish to me, but it's not like I know very many of htem."

Sephar chuckles. "Me, neither."

Liz says "She knew me, though. And knew I'm an angel, that's clear."

Sephar says "Yes. Your name, even."

Sephar says "Though it was the public one."

Liz nods.

Sephar says "Oh... I was thinking... about the Lust site and those satellite dishes."

Liz says "Yeah?"

Sephar says "I might be able to fly a bat into there, if I could get near enough to the dishes to take them, I might get a better idea of where they were pointed."

Liz smiles."Presumably at a Satellite. Could you go up the uplink and down the other side, to wherever they're linked to?"

Liz says "Unless they're reception only, of course."

Sephar shakes its head, "I couldn't... but, yes, I could tell where it was receiving things from."

Sephar says "And once we knew the satellite it wuld be fairly easy to monitor the satellite's usage, I think."

Liz says "That would be really useful."

Liz says "If you could tap the feed, we could find out who the other factions are, even."

Sephar says "Possibly."

Liz pulls up in front of Pat's house right about now, yes.

---

Fiat Justitia